The militants of Jabhat al-Nusra group (or Nusra Front, outlawed in Russia) in northwestern Syrian province of Idlib are trying to stall the withdrawal of other jihadist forces for fear of isolation, the Saudi ambassador to Jordan told Sputnik on Thursday.
AMMAN (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 11th October, 2018) The militants of Jabhat al-Nusra group (or Nusra Front, outlawed in Russia) in northwestern Syrian province of Idlib are trying to stall the withdrawal of other jihadist forces for fear of isolation, the Saudi ambassador to Jordan told Sputnik on Thursday.
The Russian and Turkish presidents have agreed to set up a buffer zone between armed opposition and Syrian government troops in Idlib by October 15. Sources close to the Nusra Front told Syria's Al-Watan daily they refused to leave over lack of security guarantees.
"The Nusra Front has presence in Idlib and it stands in the way of the Idlib agreement. We hope the deal will protect the lives and livelihood of our Syrian brothers and prevent them from being held hostage by terror groups," Khalid bin Faisal bin Turki Saud said.
The diplomat accused Qatar and another "non-Arab country", which he preferred not to name, of backing the Nusra Front. He reiterated Saudi Arabia's fears that escalation could lead to a military operation.
The Syrian government had not ruled out a military option before the buffer zone deal was settled last month at a summit in Russia's Sochi.
