ALEPPO, Syria — The Syrian opposition fears renewed battles in the northwestern province of Idlib, amid escalating tension between Turkey and Russia, which has been clearly reflected in the opposition-controlled areas through increased military escalation since the beginning of September.

The Syrian government and its Russian ally have stepped up their air and ground bombardment on opposition-held areas in the countryside of Idlib and Aleppo, with the shells reaching areas as far as Jabal al-Zawiya south of Idlib, which is normally at bay from bombing.

The Syrian and Russian shelling has been recently targeting refugee camps and the densely populated city of Idlib, the countryside of Afrin and Darat Izza in the countryside of Aleppo, as well as the vicinity of the Turkish military bases in the countryside of Idlib.

During a joint press conference with his Israeli counterpart Sept. 9 in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Turkey was not able to carry out the agreements in relation to separating the Syrian opposition from terrorists in Idlib.