Turkish Foreign Ministry
Ankara warned on Thursday that it does not want the devastating scenario unfolding in Syria’s southwest to be repeated in the northwestern province of Idlib, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
“We do not want the same scenario in Syria's southwest to be experienced in Idlib,” a statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
The statement went on to “strongly condemn” the regime attacks targeting de-escalation zones in southern Syria.
Last month, regime forces launched a wide-ranging military operation -- supported by Russian air power – in Daraa, leading the regime and its allies to establish control over most of the country's southernmost border with Jordan in line with a cease-fire deal between Russia and armed opposition groups.
The fighting has led to a major displacement crisis, with an estimated 350,000 civilians fleeing Daraa in recent days towards areas near the Jordanian border.
Following peace talks held last year in Kazakh capital Astana, Daraa was designated a “de-escalation zone” in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.
Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.
The Turkish army on Wednesday conducted its 16th round of patrols in the northern Syrian city of Manbij as part of a deal with the U.S. to rid the area of terror group YPG/PKK.In a written statement, Turkish General Staff said the forces of both countries coordinated patrols in the region between areas liberated by Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield and Manbij.The first patrols by Turkish and U.S. troops in the region began on June 18.Turkish business body to open branch in SyriaErdoğan, Trump emphasise importance of Manbij roadmapThe Manbij deal between Turkey and the U.S. focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the city in order to stabilize the region.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives, including those of women and children. The YPG/PKK is its Syrian branch.Should the Manbij model prove a success, Turkey will push for a similar arrangement in eastern Syria.Turkey has said the presence of terror forces near its border constitutes a threat and has launched military operations and other efforts to rid the region of terrorists.
Turkish army conducts 16th round of patrols in Manbij
Bashar al-Assad’s regime and opposition forces have made another deal to evacuate thousands of civilians and fighters from two besieged districts in northwest Syria, according to opposition sources on Tuesday.The agreement hammered out between the two sides calls for the evacuation of civilians from Kefraya and Al-Fuaa districts of Idlib.Both Kefraya and Al-Fuaa districts remain surrounded by opposition forces.Under the new deal, a total of 6,900 people will be evacuated, while the Assad regime will release 1,500 civilians and fighters.Syrian regime barrel bomb attack on school kills 10 civilians in QuneitraSyrian civilians approach Israeli frontier fence in Golan HeightsLast year, many prisoners in al-Yarmouk refugee camp, Madaya and al-Zabadani, as well as in the regime’s prisons, were freed as part of a deal to evacuate the Shias in Kefraya and Al-Fuaa.The two Shia-majority districts will be completely evacuated should new evacuation takes place.Notably, Idlib falls within a network of de-escalation zones -- endorsed by Turkey, Russia and Iran -- in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in early 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.
Syrian opposition, regime allies to exchange hostages
At least ten civilians, the majority of whom were children, were killed after a barrel bomb attack carried out by the Syrian regime and its allies targeted a school in the town of Ain Teineh, in the southwest province of Quneitra.The Syrian regime army and its allies have taken control of the strategic hill overlooking the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights as Assad pushes forward with an offensive to seize the remaining parts of the southwest from opposition fighters.The region has been heavily bombed by Russian and Syrian regime airstrikes in the past two days as the army has moved closer to the Israeli border after gaining control of most of Daraa province in a military excursion that began last June.The regime offensive has caused a major displacement crisis in Daraa, with an estimated 350,000 civilians fleeing the province in recent days towards areas near the Jordanian border.Syrian civilians approach Israeli frontier fence in Golan HeightsThe opposition-held towns of Qusaiba, Sweisa and Ain Teineh were being bombarded into submission by the Assad regime and its allies.Following peace talks held last year in Astana, Daraa and Quneitra were both designated as “de-escalation zones” in which acts of aggression are prohibited. The opposition remains in control of most of the border-adjacent Quneitra province, however, the Daesh terror group still maintains a presence in the southern border pocket of Tasil.Iranian advisors still in southern Syria: Rouhani envoy
Syrian regime barrel bomb attack on school kills 10 civilians in Quneitra