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US Special Envoy for Syria Says Idlib De-Escalation Zone Still Holding

© REUTERS / Ammar AbdullahIdlib city, Syria
Idlib city, Syria - Sputnik International
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WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The chances of achieving a breakthrough to resolve the Syria conflict are better now than they were six months ago, US Special Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey said during a press briefing.

"In terms of a breakthrough… I still think the chances are not great, I would say they're better now than they were three months ago or six months ago," Jeffrey told reporters on Monday.

He added that Idlib de-escalation zone was still holding, despite some sporadic incidents of violence in recent days.

"In terms of Idlib, we still believe… that it is a good thing that there is a good de-escalation zone, we believe it is holding. All of our conversations not just with the Turks but with the Russians indicate that it is," Jeffrey told reporters.

Syrian army artillery soldiers in Idlib province in northwestern Syria - Sputnik International
Syrian Army Foils Militants’ Attack Near Idlib De-Escalation Zone – Source
On September 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to set up a 9-12 mile deep demilitarized zone in Idlib along the contact line of the armed opposition and the government forces.

Putin and Erdogan met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina last week in order to discuss further steps needed for the demilitarized zone.

Militants withdrew their heavy weapons from the area as required under the agreement, but the creation of the demilitarized zone is still not complete because terrorists continue provocations.

Jeffrey said that earlier in the day, the Syria Small Group reviewed the implementation of a UN-facilitated Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process to bring a permanent and peaceful end to the conflict.

The ambassador also said he has seen US sanctions have some impact on Iran's influence in Syria, though he declined to provide more details.

READ MORE: Russia, Turkey Agree to Continue Joint Work on Idlib Memorandum Implementation

The province of Idlib in northwest Syria is the last remaining stronghold of terrorist groups operating in the country, including Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organization, which has joined forces with four other jihadi groups in Idlib to form a terrorist alliance called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, widely regarded as the dominant force on the ground in the province.

Syria has been devastated by years of violent civil war that has prompted millions to flee hostilities to other locations within the country or abroad.

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