The state-run news agency Sanaa announced that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad spoke in the Baath party central committee meeting and said the agreement is a temporary measure, arguing that the regime scored points in the field this way. 

Assad said: “This province and other areas still under terrorist control will return to the Syrian state.” By “terrorist”, Assad refers to both the gang structures the West considers “the opposition” and Al Nusra and ISIS, categorized as “jihadists”. 

An agreement was reached on September 17 between Russia and Turkey to form a demilitarized zone 15 to 20 km wide (a “buffer zone”) regarding the Idlib crisis. This zone will be placed between regime and gang-controlled areas.

There are claims that Ankara-backed gangs are withdrawing their heavy weapons from the region, and this process is set to conclude by October 15. There are no independent sources monitoring the withdrawal of weapons. Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, formed by Al Nusra which has control over much of the area, hasn’t declared a clear stance yet, but there are reports that they have been holding meetings with their partners in Ankara. Al Nusra controls 70% of the area designated to become the buffer zone. According to the agreement, they have to leave.

Idlib was one of the four no-clash zones determined a year ago. In the time since, the regime took control in the other 3 zones, and only Idlib was left. The Syrian regime thinks the Idlib deal is part of the previous agreement for no-clash zones and that the regime will at some point retake control.