According to a military source in Latakia, the jihadist rebels of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham
and the Turkestan Islamic Party continued raising new trenches near the key town of Kabbani, as Syrian and Russian troops observed from afar.The source said that the entire Kabbani front has been heavily fortified by the jihadist rebels, prompting the Syrian military to believe there will be no withdrawal from the Latakia part o the buffer zone agreement.
Furthermore, the Syrian military watched as the jihadist rebels in the al-Ghaab Plain strengthened their positions and reinforced their lines.
The deadline for the complete withdrawal of all rebel forces, including jihadists, is set for midnight on October 15th.
Thus far, some rebel groups have withdrawn from the buffer zone; however, a large number of fighters still remain in the designated de-escalation area.