Syrian deminers have cleared about 15% of Ma’aret al-Nu’man town in Idlib province, which had recently been freed from militants, Bomb Disposal Squad Deputy Commander Zane Al Aveddin told reporters.
The Syrian army recently freed the town of Maaret al-Nu’man from militancy during a counteroffensive.
“Our commanders sent us here shortly after the town was liberated. We work here for the second day, checking every house and every street. We continue our work”, – Aveddin told reporters.
Deminers found about 75 unexploded shells and mines in the city. Several large shells were detonated on the spot. Aveddin said the shells were of Turkish and Israeli origin, as well as homemade.
In addition, several stretch marks and mines left by the militants were found. They were removed and destroyed.
“The work is a lot, but we expect to finish it within a month”, – Aveddin explained.
Until the mine clearance is complete, civilians are not allowed into the city. At present, only the Syrian military is in the city.
Maaret En Nauman is 45 kilometres from the city of Idlib, the capital of the governorate (region) of the same name and the centre of the Idlib de-escalation zone. Only sappers can be seen on the streets and army checkpoints at crossroads. One of the few civilians to be met on its streets is Muhammad Allu, director of the local museum and part-time director of the Department of Antiquities in the province of Idlib Gazi.
The museum is located in the XVI century caravanserai building, where merchants and pilgrims once stayed. Nowadays, the building houses a beautiful collection of surrounding Byzantine villas and churches from the V-VI centuries.
However, during the civil war the militants turned the museum into their stronghold. At the entrance to the square in front of the museum, there is still graffiti from the group that controlled the city – Jabhar Ansar al-Islam. One of the bases of the militants was set up in the basements of the museum and blankets can still be found there.
The locals, who are very proud of the museum, tried as hard as they could to save its exhibits. Ancient mosaics were hidden behind bags of gravel, and the museum director hid a valuable collection of gold.
“The militants mocked me and my family and the gold jewellery was gone”, – Allu told reporters.
According to the head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the warring parties in the ATS, Major-General Yuri Korenkov, violations of the cessation of hostilities by illegal armed groups continue in the territory of Idlib de-escalation zone. Over the past 24 hours, 27 shelling incidents have been recorded.