Russia’s RIA Novosti agency reported that the ongoing consultations between Moscow and Ankara regarding the situation in the de-escalation zone in Idlib is discussing the level of the Turkish military presence there.
The agency quoted a Turkish source as saying that during a meeting held at the Turkish Foreign Ministry, a Russian technical delegation presented proposals on reducing the number of observation points for the Turkish army in Idlib, but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement in this regard.
The source added, “After the Turkish side refused to withdraw its observation posts and insisted on maintaining them, it was decided to reduce the number of Turkish forces present in Idlib and to withdraw heavy weapons from the area.”
The Turkish Ministry of Defense had announced that a meeting would be held on Wednesday, at its headquarters in Ankara, between Turkish and Russian military delegations, to discuss the latest developments in Idlib.
During the meeting on Wednesday, several protesters gathered outside of the Turkish observation posts to protest Ankara’s presence inside the areas of the Syrian Arab Republic.
Turkey later accused the Syrian government of organizing these protests and said their troops were ‘attacked’ by the demonstrators at observation post 7.
(almasdarnews.com)
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Russian and Turkish army officials met on Wednesday to discuss the situation inside Syria, where both countries currently have a large military presence.
ReplyDeleteAccording to a source in Damascus, the two sides discussed a number topics, including the ceasefire in the Idlib Governorate and the Turkish presence in areas controlled by the government.
The source said Turkey rejected the Russian proposal to handover their observation posts, which are currently surrounded by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA).
He added Turkey proposed a plan that would require the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to withdraw from Tal Rifa’at and Manbij in northern Aleppo and handover these towns to Ankara.
The proposed plan was rejected by the Russian delegation, as the Syrian Armed Forces are present in Tal Rifa’at and there is no security threat at either of the two towns.
Turkey has sought to take over Manbij and Tal Rifa’at since the Syrian Democratic Forces and People’s Protection Units (YPG) captured these two towns in the Aleppo Governorate.
In Tal Rifa’at, the Syrian Army and YPG have a security agreement that allows both forces to control the town.
Other than the security threat posed by Turkey and its allied militants in Tal Rifa’at, the town has been relatively safe for the locals and refugees living there.