DAMASCUS, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The ultra-radical groups have yet to leave the planned demilitarized zone which is slated to go into force on Oct. 15 in northern Syria, a war monitor reported on Sunday.
A few hours were left for the demilitarized zone to go into effect and the ultra-radical rebels, who are in control of 70 percent of the planned buffer zone, are still in their positions, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The watchdog group said tension prevails in that region, which stretches from the northeastern countryside of Latakia province to the northern countryside of the province of Hama and western countryside of Latakia as well as areas in the countryside of Idlib province in northwestern Syria.
It said the Syrian and Russian side is targeting the demilitarized zone for many reasons, one of which is the presence of the extremist groups in the zone.
The withdrawal of the extremist groups from the buffer zone is the second step of the Russian-Turkish deal to establish such a zone in northern Syria.
The rebels have withdrawn their heavy weapons recently.
The deal was reached last month between the leaders of Turkey and Russia, aiming at averting Idlib Province, which is the last major rebel stronghold in Syria, a wide-scale offensive by the Syrian Army.
The Syrian government has welcomed the deal but noted that it was temporary not a permanent one.
