Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov
The Kremlin said on Wednesday that the situation in Syria's Idlib Province remained of heightened concern and that Russia was talking to various countries about it.
"The situation in Idlib is still a matter of heightened concern and worry and, of course, it is on the agenda when it comes to all contacts that the Russian side has at various levels with relevant colleagues," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a conference call.
The last meeting between the working groups of Turkey and Russia on Syria was held on Aug. 31-Sept. 4, Turkey's National Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.The ministry said the meeting focused on the latest developments in Syria and regional security.It added joint working groups will continue in the future as well.The meeting came ahead of trilateral summit between Turkey, Russia and Iran on Sept. 7 in Tehran.Assad regime shells Syria's IdlibErdoğan says Idlib assault would be ‘a grave massacre’Russia says in contact with Turkey regarding northern Syria
Turkey, Russia hold last working group meeting on Syria
Syrian opposition head Jawad Abu Hatab has called on Turkey and the international community to stop the massacre in Idlib after Russian bombardment struck 18 targets in the northwestern opposition stronghold. Speaking exclusively to Yeni Şafak daily, the prime minister of Syria’s Interim Government described the Russian attack that precedes a planned summit in Tehran on Sept. 7 as “surprising,” noting that over 30 missiles struck the Idlib town of Jisr al-Shughour, then Hama’s Sahl al-Ghab region.A trilateral summit of Turkey, Russia and Iran on Syria is scheduled for Friday, with the participation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.Assad regime shells Syria's IdlibOn Tuesday, Russian warplanes bombed several areas in the last opposition-held stronghold of Idlib, raising worries of a major assault by the Assad regime forces and its allies.Located near the Turkish border, Idlib is home to more than 3 million Syrians, many of whom fled from other cities following attacks by regime forces.“A serious ground mobilization can be seen on the regime front, but any ground bombing or advance has not started yet,” noted Abu Hatab.UN aid chief fears worst humanitarian crisis in IdlibUS Turkish embassy voices concern over Idlib offensiveAbu Hatab pointed that the Assad regime grew emboldened by international indifference toward Syria, pointing that the aim of pro-Assad forces is to control the opposition-held towns of Ariha, Khan Sheikhun, Saraqib, Jisr al-Shughour, Qalaat al-Madiq and the M4- M5 highway. In May 2017, Idlib was designated a “de-escalation zone” -- in which acts of aggression are expressly forbidden -- as part of ongoing peace talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana.Ghost townsAbu Hatab also warned that the northwestern opposition-held regions would turn into “ghost towns” if the regime manages to seize control over them, which would successfully secure the western leg of Assad’s project after the PKK-U.S. alliance largely completed the same mission in the eastern parts of the country.A large-scale Syrian regime offensive in the opposition stronghold of Idlib could lead to the “worst humanitarian catastrophe in the 21st century,” the UN’s humanitarian chief warned on Tuesday.Erdoğan says Idlib assault would be ‘a grave massacre’Russia says in contact with Turkey regarding northern Syria
Syrian opposition head calls on world to ‘stop the massacre’ in Idlib
The Assad regime shelled Syria's northwestern Idlib province on Wednesday after Russia resumed air strikes the previous day.Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has sworn to recapture every inch of Syria and has made big gains against the opposition since Russia joined his war effort in 2015.Last week, a source close to Damascus said the government was preparing a phased offensive to recover Idlib province, but Turkey, whose army has a string of observation posts around the edge of the opposition area, has warned against such an assault.Russian air raids ceased in and around Idlib on August 15, but pro-Syrian government forces have maintained an aerial bombardment and shelling.Russia says in contact with Turkey regarding northern SyriaUN envoy urges Erdoğan, Putin to discuss IdlibUN aid chief fears worst humanitarian crisis in Idlib
Assad regime shells Syria's Idlib