Official statement pictures: Moscow, Ankara reach Idlib buffer zone agreement.

Russia and Turkey have agreed to create a demilitarized Idlib buffer zone in Syria’s northwestern province to separate government forces from rebel fighters based there.

The Russian president said that under the deal, all heavy weaponry, including tanks, rocket launch systems and mortar launchers operated by rebel groups would need to be pulled out of the buffer zone by 10 October.

“Radically-minded rebels”, including members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham – a jihadist alliance linked to al-Qaeda that was once known as al-Nusra Front – would also have to leave the zone, Mr Putin added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said it would be 15km to 25km (9-15 miles) wide and come into force by 15 October.

Internally, (Hurras Al-Deen, Ansar Al-Tawheed, Ansar al-Din, Ansar Allah, Al-Furqan and Jund Al-Qavqz) along with other Jihadi factions operating in the ‘Sham Liberation Organization’, refused to withdraw from the front-lines of southern Idlib and northern Lattakia.