Hulusi Akar and Sergei Shoigu
Defense ministers of Turkey and Russia on Tuesday discussed further interactions in Syria's Idlib at a meeting in Russia's coastal city of Sochi.
Hulusi Akar and Sergey Shoygu examined the actions needed to be performed to "close all the remaining issues in Idlib," said a Russian Defense Ministry statement.
"The current situation in Syria requires our immediate solution and discussion of the pending issues," it said.
Hundreds of Syrians left Turkey on Tuesday for terror-free regions of Syria as part of ongoing voluntary return program.Taking refuge in Turkey due to civil war in Syria, 400 Syrians -- including women and children -- from different parts of Turkey were voluntarily repatriated from southern Kilis province to areas in Syria cleared of terrorists.Turkey’s Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operations in northwestern Syria liberated the region of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists, making return of Syrian civilians to homeland possible.YPG/PKK attacks protesters in Syria’s Al-HasakahJafar Muhammad, a Syrian returnee, told Anadolu Agency that he felt joy and sorrow at the same time as he was leaving Turkey after four years.Expressing his love for Turkey, Muhammed said he was happy to return to Syria.“May Allah bless all people here. They gave us foods, drinks, clothes. But, now, we want to go back home. I hope all of our friends here will return to Syria soon.”Over 17,000 Syrians returned to Syria since January under the voluntary return program, according to local sources.Video: Syrians continue to return to terror-free hometownsHundreds of US troops deploy to PKK-occupied areas on Turkey-Syria borderUAE, Saudi Arabia dispatch troops to east of the Euphrates in Syria
Syrians continue to return to hometowns cleared of terrorists by Turkey
Turkey's head of National Intelligence Service (MIT) Hakan Fidan was also present at the meeting, according to Turkish defense sources.
On Sept. 17, Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib.
Ankara and Moscow also signed a memorandum of understanding calling for the “stabilization” of Idlib's de-escalation zone, in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.
Under the deal, opposition groups in Idlib will remain in areas in which they are already present, while Russia and Turkey will conduct joint patrols in the area with a view to preventing renewed fighting.
The YPG/PKK terrorist group has opened fire on protesters against high taxes and oppression by the group in Al-Hasakah province in northeastern Syria, according to local sources.The protest took place in Ash-Shaddadi district in the province, and YPG/PKK terrorists used heavy weapons to disperse the demonstrators, the sources said.The demonstrations began in the province three days ago but escalated on Monday when YPG/PKK terrorists attacked civilians with mortar fire.A number of demonstrators were reportedly injured.Meanwhile, a state of calm prevailed in the district on Tuesday as the terrorist group shut routes in both directions in the district.Ash-Shaddadi district is adjacent to the Iraqi border at an intersection point of Al-Hasakah and Deir Ez-Zor provinces. Both provinces have witnessed demonstrations against the YPG/PKK terrorist group.PKK presence in Iraq's Sinjar ‘unacceptable’: KRGTurkey and Syrian opposition conduct ‘peace op’ in AfrinSyria regime, Iran-backed groups propagating Shia faith
YPG/PKK attacks protesters in Syria’s Al-Hasakah
The U.S. has deployed over 500 troops to areas occupied by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Syria along the Turkish border within the last ten days alone, according to reports.Pentagon transferred these soldiers from Iraq and the U.S. base al-Tanf in southern Syria to the Ayn El Arab (Kobani) and al-Yarubiyah line.The U.S has supplied the PYD terror organization and its armed wing, the YPG, with thousands of truckloads of weapons to allegedly use in the fight against Daesh, despite Ankara’s warnings that the fact they are the Syrian offshoots of the PKK terror organization.Daesh terrorists have control over two villages across Syria – Hajir and Ishafa- where only 1,500 terrorists are stationed in a 150 square-kilometer area.UAE, Saudi Arabia dispatch troops to east of the Euphrates in SyriaPKK, US simultaneously send military reinforcements Raqqa Local Council member Salih Hacı Abdullah spoke exclusively to Yeni Şafak daily and unveiled the details about the deployments, stating that the U.S and the PKK terror organization were acting in coordination with each other.He stressed that more than 3000 PKK terrorists from Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa were sent to northern regions in fear of a Turkish operation.President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in late October that Turkey had completed preparations for operations on the eastern side of Euphrates River.“We will trample on terror groups with more effective operations. We have finished all our preparations and plans regarding the issue," Erdoğan said.
Hundreds of US troops deploy to PKK-occupied areas on Turkey-Syria border
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia allegedly dispatched troops to Syria’s northeast, which is occupied by the PKK/YPG terror group. The soldiers are purportedly stationed with the U.S.-led coalition.Although there is no estimate of how many troops were posted from the two Gulf countries, the claim comes at a time when Turkey could launch an operation targeting the east of the Euphrates at any given moment.President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in late October that Turkey had completed preparations for operations on the eastern side of Euphrates River.“We will trample on terror groups with more effective operations. We have finished all our preparations and plans regarding the issue," Erdoğan said.Saudi king backs political solutions in Yemen, SyriaSaudi FM confirms Arab forceSaudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir confirmed in April a report published in the Wall Street Journal saying that U.S. troops in Syria could be replaced by an Arab force. Jubeir said Riyadh was in talks with Washington about such a force.“We are in discussion with the U.S. and have been since the beginning of the Syrian crisis about sending forces into Syria,” Jubeir said on Apr. 17.“There are discussions regarding ... what kind of force needs to remain in eastern Syria and where that force would come from, and those discussions are ongoing,” he added.In August, Riyadh pledged $100 million to northeastern Syria, which is occupied by the Kurdistan workers’ Party (PKK) to rebuild and stabilize the area.Turkey and Syrian opposition conduct ‘peace op’ in AfrinCooperation with AssadRecent developments indicate that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are leaning toward cooperating with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has massacred millions of his own citizens.Last week, the UAE said it was negotiating the reopening of its embassy in Damascus and restoring ties with Syria.Pro-Syrian regime news outlet al-Masdar recently reported that Saudi Arabia and Syria were working through back channels with the UAE’s help to reach political conciliation.US-backed PKK moves drug cultivation industry to Syria’s ManbijFurthermore, there are claims that the UAE seeks to include the Syrian regime in the Arab force.Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million others were displaced, according to UN officials.Eleventh Astana talks for Syria to be held on Nov. 28-29Turkey’s mini drone neutralizes 18 PKK terrorists
UAE, Saudi Arabia dispatch troops to east of the Euphrates in Syria