Another important step towards peace in Syria is the demilitarization of the Idlib zone. Despite multiple provocations, the process is continuing.
Here's Alexey Baranov with the details from the Arab Republic.
A flight from Russia and a 180-mile ride to the area of deployment. Military vehicles move around Syria only along the routes agreed upon with the local authorities. The Russian military police, who serve at the checkpoint in the Idlib de-escalation zone, have prepared everything to accommodate their CBRN colleagues. This is the highest point of the military police checkpoint. It's located at the border of the Idlib demilitarized zone. It happened so, that right behind the checkpoint there's the Christian village of Mharda. The militia has been defending the village against terrorists for seven years. Now, the village is getting shelled from the territory controlled by the terrorists. The Russian military police has been monitoring the situation day and night since the initiative to create a demilitarized zone in the province of Idlib was implemented. The agreement was reached by the leaders of Russia and Turkey in late September.
Alexey, Military Police Commander: "Time: 11:15. No violations of the ceasefire regime have been sighted. The contact line is about 2 miles from here. The Al-Nusra Front is occupying the city of Latanna. They are constantly reinforcing their positions".
According to Military Police Commander Alexey, who is in charge of this Idlib border checkpoint, the situation isn't always so peaceful. Each shot of both sides is being noted.
Alexey, Military Police Commander: "The enemy is firing at the positions of the Syrian Armed Forces. But the ceasefire agreement is in effect. The actions of the illegal armed group are a provocation. The Syrian Armed Forces aren't responding to the provocation and aren't shooting back".
Meanwhile, the Syrian soldiers help the Russian military police reinforce their positions in this village, which was recently liberated from terrorists. It's the first field test of the system under combat conditions. As we can see, the CBRN-defense system is carried by the BTR-80, which means the crew that operates it is securely protected by the armor. It can repel an enemy attack on the move. It can even cross a water obstacle. If there's information that chemical weapons or toxic agents have been used, the armored vehicle will be immediately deployed to the area. The data the system provides isn't called into question by any international organization.
Dmitry Petrov, Cbrn Commander: "It gives us sound and visual signals and also determines the azimuth and elevation of the location of the toxic agent, its type, and the field concentration. It can be operated manually or automatically and has a radius of 360°."
- First Sergeant Ismailov.
- Yes, sir.
- You take the fire position.
- Private Khabizov.
- Yes, sir.
- You take the second fire position.
Serving at the border of the Idlib de-escalation zone is basically working at the frontline, with a peaceful Syria behind their backs and the positions of those who are still waging war against Syrian civilians several kilometers ahead. Russian military police units are ready for any sudden change in the situation.
"Storm 11".
"Storm 11!"
Everything’s ready to defend the observation post. They are taking positions in the streets that only recently had IEDs all over them. The Russian military police unit in the Idlib de-escalation zone is continuing its dangerous but necessary work to finally free Syria from terrorism.
Alexey Baranov, Alexander Malyshev, and Nikita Korunov. Vesti, the Syrian Arab Republic, the border of the Idlib demilitarized zone.
