Contents tagged with Idlib

  • Kremlin: It's not time to talk about the worst-case scenarios in Syria's Idlib yet

    Russia does not want to talk about the worst-case scenarios in the Syrian region of Greater Idlib (Idlib and Hama provinces, parts of Aleppo and Latakia provinces), said today, February 21, press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov, commenting on the possibility of clashes between Russia and Turkey in northwest Syria.

    The Kremlin spokesman stressed that militant groups must be destroyed, no matter where they are in Syria. Russia is deeply concerned about the situation in Idlib but …

  • Merkel and Macron willing to meet with Putin and Erdogan for Syria talks

    During phone calls with Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron have expressed their willingness to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in order to resolve the crisis in Syria’s Idlib province, the German government said in a statement.

    Merkel and Macron have expressed their concern regarding the situation in the region and the catastrophic consequences of the fighting in Idlib. The national leaders called for an immediate ceasefire and …

  • Turkey: Russia must 'stand aside' in Idlib

    Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told CNN Turk in an interview that there is “healthy dialog” between the Turkish and Russian military regarding the intensified conflict in Syria’s Idlib province.

    He added that Ankara has no intention to confront Moscow, and is doing all it can to prevent an encounter between Russian and Turkish troops. However, the minister said that the problem in Idlib can only be resolved if Russia “stands aside”.

    Akar also said that Turkey could use American Patriot …

  • Russia thwarts Turkish offensive in Idlib

    On February 20 at around 3 PM local time in the north-east of Syria’s Idlib province, pro-Turkish forces with support from Turkish artillery began an offensive towards the city of Saraqib, which was captured by Assad’s forces several weeks ago. Less than two hours after the start of the attack, Russian aircraft intervened. When the Syrian army’s defenses near the towns of Qminas and Nayrab were breached, Russian Su-24 bombers attacked, destroying the opposition’s armored vehicles. Syrian …

  • Kremlin prepares for war with Erdogan in Syria

    Fighting between Turkish soldiers and the Syrian army, which Russia has been supporting for five years, would be the worst possible development, said Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, commenting on a statement by Turkish President Recep Erdogan, who warned that an operation in Syria’s Idlib province will begin in the next few days unless Assad and Moscow withdraw their forces.

    “If we’re talking about an operation against terrorist groups in Idlib, then, without a doubt, it will be activity …

  • Turkey deploys army in Idlib, citing failure of negotiations with Russia

    Turkey is unsatisfied with the results of the negotiations with Russia on the situation in Syria, and will continue to deploy troops and military vehicles in Idlib, said Turkish Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin after a meeting between Russian and Turkish delegations in Moscow, RIA Novosti reports.

    The fourth round of negotiations in two weeks, featuring Russia’s Presidential Representative Alexander Lavrentyev and Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin and Turkey’s deputy Foreign …

  • US sends convoy of military vehicles from Iraq to Syria

    A US convoy of military vehicles has departed from Iraq towards Syria, Sky News Arabia reports, citing sources in the Iraqi security service.

    According to the source, the convoy consists of more than 50 military vehicles, and has already crossed the border from Iraq to Syria.

    The radio station Sham FM reported that a convoy of 55 American military trucks had arrived in the Hasakah province in north-eastern Syria. The convoy’s destination and objectives were unknown.

    The transfer of US …

  • Russia begins to establish control over Syria's main highway

    Russian military police have begun to take control of the M5 motorway in Syria, reported Al Hadath TV channel on Twitter. M5 is the country's main highway that connects Damascus with the central and northern regions.

    Russian military police units have reportedly begun to deploy along the road, including in Idlib province, where fighting is underway for the control of the highway.

    The Russian Defense Ministry has not yet commented on this information.

    The M5 road runs through Syria. It …

  • Russia accuses Turkey of providing American-made weapons for militants in Syria

    Turkey is moving personnel, weapons and military equipment to the de-escalation zone in the Syrian province of Idlib, much of which goes to militants from the Jabhat al-Nusra group, Russian media reported citing military and diplomatic sources in the Kremlin.

    "The American MANPADS, which the militants did not have before, fell into the hands of terrorists thanks to Turkish supplies," the Russian news agency TASS quoted one of the sources as saying.

    Russia believes that the use of these …

  • Russian ambassador to Turkey says he is threatened because of Idlib situation

    Russian Ambassador to Turkey Alexey Yerkhov said that he has started receiving threats amid the deterioration of the situation in Idlib, Syria.

    “I have been receiving direct threats,” he told Sputnik-Turkey in an interview.

    According to the diplomat, anti-Russian comments have started appearing in the Turkish segment of social media. “There’s escalation in Syria. Agreed: these are very painful developments and troubling days… But look at the terrible madness on social networks,” he remarked. …