国际英语新闻:Turkey says all rebel heavy weapons removed from demilitarized zone in Syria's Idlib

ANKARA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian rebels have completed the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the demilitarized zone in the northern province of Idlib, Turkish Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

Turkey's activities in Idlib will continue in order to secure sustainable and permanent peace, the ministry said in a statement.

Opposition forces in the region also confirmed to state-run Anadolu Agency that they removed their heavy weapons, including Grad rocket launchers, mortars and medium-range missiles from the area on Sunday night.

Meanwhile, Turkish forces began to dispatch weapons and armored vehicles to the area for upcoming patrols with Russian military under the framework of the agreement.

Last month, Turkey and Russia agreed to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib, Syria's last rebel stronghold, following a meeting in the Russian city of Sochi between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

According to the agreement, heavy weapons, tanks, rocket systems and mortars belonging to rebel groups would be withdrawn by Oct. 10, while Russia and Turkey will conduct joint patrols in the demilitarized zone.