DAMASCUS, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Turkey has demanded a list of the rebels' names and weapons as a deal concerning the demilitarized zone in northwestern Syria is expected to enter into force on Oct. 15, a war monitor reported Thursday.
Turkey, which has a clout over the rebel groups in Idlib Province in northwestern Syria, demanded a list of names and numbers as well as the types of weapons the rebels possess in the areas that would be demilitarized by mid-October, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The demilitarized zone between the Syrian army and the rebels was agreed upon between Turkey and Russia on Sept. 30.
Since the announcement of the agreement, which helped avert military operations in nearby countryside of Aleppo province and northeastern Latakia, Turkey has increased military presence to push the rebels in the planned demilitarized zone to withdraw.
However, it remains unclear how the deal would take effect as some of the al-Qaida-linked groups have declared their rejection.
Only the Turkey-backed Failaq al-Sham rebel group withdrew some of its heavy military gears from areas in the southern countryside of Aleppo adjacent to the northern countryside of Idlib.
The London-based watchdog, which claims to rely on a network of activists on the ground, said Turkish forces entered 30 truckloads of cement blocks into northern Idlib to fortify its positions.
It's worth noting that the planned demilitarized zone will be policed by the Turkish and Russian forces.
The main rebel group in Idlib, the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, otherwise known as the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, has yet to give a decision about the Turkish-Russian deal, but its militants targeted a tank of the Syrian forces in the planned demilitarized zone, according to the Observatory.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said in a recent interview that the liberation of Idlib, as well as rebel-held areas in the countryside of Aleppo Province and Hama Province, will be part of the last chapter of fighting terrorism in Syria.
The first step of liberating Idlib is for the rebels to hand over their heavy and medium weapons by December, while allowing rebels originally from Idlib to remain in the province if they sign a reconciliation deal with the government, he noted.
The rebels from outside Idlib, including the foreign ones, will be returned to their cities and countries, al-Moallem added.
Idlib has emerged as the main destination and stronghold for the rebels fleeing other parts of Syria after deals or surrender.
