DAMASCUS – In Northern Syria, rebels began withdrawing from Idlib Provinceunder a Russian-Turkish deal to avert a massive assault on the country’slast major opposition stronghold.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Faylaq al-Sham rebel groupbegan leaving parts of the neighbouring province of Aleppo with heavyweapons, including tanks and cannons.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart RecepTayyip Erdogan agreed to set up a demilitarized zone around Idlib.