Russian – Turkish talks | Disputes escalate tensions in Idlib – Photo

Defence Redefined

18/09/2020

On March 5, Russia and Turkey reached a subversive agreement to stabilize the northern Syrian province of Idlib, in which a number of paramilitary organizations, mainly backed by Turkey, are active.

Ankara, however, has not yet fulfilled its commitments provided for in the agreement, such as the ceasefire in Idlib, the demilitarization of the province at a depth of 15-20 km and the withdrawal of all paramilitary organizations.

The new Russia-Turkey talks on the Syrian province, which took place earlier this week, revealed a serious disagreement between the two countries. According to RIA Novosti, Turkey refused to reduce the number of its observatories in Russia at the time.

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Russia is apparently urging Turkey to adhere to its commitments. If Ankara refuses to do so, Syrian forces and their allies may resume operations in Idlib. This will lead to a military confrontation similar to the one that preceded the March 5 agreement.

However, Ankara also made demands at the dialogue table, according to the Mideast Discourse news agency.

Citing sources in the Syrian capital, Damascus, the agency said the two sides discussed various issues, including the Turkish presence in areas controlled by the Syrian government.

He added that Turkey had proposed a plan that would require the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to withdraw from Tall Rifat and Manbij in northern Aleppo and hand over those cities to Ankara.

The proposed plan was rejected by the Russian delegation, as the Syrian Arab Army is present in Tall Rifat and Manbij and there is no security threat in either city.

Turkey has sought to occupy these cities since the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the People’s Protection Units (YPG) took control of the two cities in northern Aleppo.

In Tall Rifat, the Syrian Arab Army and Kurdish forces have signed a security agreement that allows the two forces to control the city.

Ankara and Moscow support opposing sides in Syria. Russia, along with Iran, has backed President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, and Turkey has backed “opposition” forces seeking to oust him. Turkey seized control of the border town of Ras Al-Ain last year in an attack to push back Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters, whom Ankara considers a terrorist group.

Since April 2018, attacks on the last stronghold of the opposition have intensified dramatically and caused new waves of refugees to the Turkish border.

Now, if no agreement is reached between Russia and Turkey, the situation is expected to escalate and lead to new hostilities such as those in early 2020.

In fact, recently, the Syrian Arab Army and the Russian air force in Syria have intensified their attacks in Idlib Province, which heralds the start of new operations.

With information from: Middle East Monitor, Mideast Discourse, SouthFront

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