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A unit of the Russian Armed Forces conducted a reconnaissance mission in government-held areas in the southwestern Aleppo countryside and the southeastern Idlib countryside visiting the villages of Tell Maraq and Umm Sehrij, the Syrian al-Watan newspaper reported on May 13.

The newspapaper said that the Russian military is planning to establish several observation posts in southwestern Aleppo and southeastern Idlib in order to monitor the de-escalation zones there.

These Russian posts will likely be located in front of the Turkish observation posts established in the towns of al-Eis in southwestern Aleppo and in Tell Tuqan and Sarman towns in southeastern Idlib.

Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed on establishing these Russian observation posts earlier this year during the Astana talks. The three countries also agreed that Russia should clear the town of Jisr al-Shughur in northwestern Idlib and the al-Ghab plains in northwestern Hama and establish similar posts there.

According to Syrian pro-government activists, the Syrian Arab Army backed by the Russian Aerospace Forces may launch a military operation to clear Jisr al-Shughur and the al-Ghab plains after the upcoming round of Astana talks that’s set to be held on May 14 and 15.

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