On May 3, the Russian Military Police removed the barriers from the Hama-Aleppo highway in the northern Homs countryside pocket and deployed several units near the towns of al-Rastan and Talbiseh under the reconciliation agreement was reached on May 2, according to Syrian opposition sources.
FSA fighter in northern Homs helping the Russian soldier that was tasked with raising the Russia flag over Hama highway, as the first part of the evacuation agreement, can here people cheering pic.twitter.com/X33w4z1C9Z
— Within Syria (@WithinSyriaBlog) May 3, 2018
The sources added that the Free Syrian Army (FSA) groups in al-Rastan and Talbiseh began handing over their heavy weapons to the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) under the same reconciliation agreement.
Click to see the full-size image
Click to see the full-size image
The withdrawal of members of the radical groups, including Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), from the northern Homs countryside pocket is set to begin on May 5. However, the execution of the agreement may be delayed as many radical militants in northern Homs are still refusing to withdraw.
These radical militants even shelled Homs on May 2 in attempt to sabotage the reconciliation agreement. Syrian opposition sources said that the radical militants, who are stationed in the al-Hauula area, are now planning to form a unified armed group to attack the SAA and to underine the the agreement.
According to Syrian pro-government sources, the SAA and the Tiger Forces may launch a military operation against militants in al-Hauula area if they do not obey the reconciliation agreement.
