The Syrian government forces continued to shell villages bordering the fronts with the rebels in southern Idlib, on the second day of the ceasefire in northern Syria under the supervision of Russia and Turkey.
Activists said that the artillery targeted the villages of Maar Shamarin, Deir Sharqi, Deir al-Gharbi, Tell Mannas and Maar Shamshah, and the rockets targeted the villages of Al-Ghadfa, Maasaran, Maar Shurin and the city of Maarat al-Numan.
Local sources said that the bombing prevented the return of the displaced to southern Idlib, while some of the displaced returned to the villages around Saraqib, east of Idlib.
Other sources added that the fear of a return military operations and attacks by Moscow-backed Damascus forces prevented the return of the displaced to southern Idlib.
A map showing the city of Maarat Numan and the surrounding villages (Syria Liveua Map)
Today, Damascus opened three humanitarian crossings in the outskirts of Idlib and Aleppo to facilitate the exit of civilians to areas under the authority of Damascus, according to a Syrian military statement published by the Russian RT channel.
Government media said they had monitored the arrival of displaced families leaving from the rebel-held areas at the Al-Hadr crossing, south of Aleppo.
About four million people live in Idlib province, half of whom have been displaced from the four surrounding of province, according to local statistics.
The Russian-backed forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have recently stepped up their military operations in southern Idlib, displacing some 235,000 civilians in the process according to the United Nations.