22-34 Turkish soldiers killed in Syrian/Russian airstrikes in Idlib

[Pakpak]

At least 22 Turkish soldiers have been killed in an airstrike by Syrian "regime forces", a Turkish provincial governor has said.

Several more were badly hurt in the attack in Idlib in the north-west, Hatay governor Rahmi Dogan said. Other reports put the death toll higher.

Turkey's president held a top-level security meeting after the strike.

Syrian forces are trying to retake Idlib from rebels who are backed by Turkish soldiers.

Why does the battle for Idlib matter?
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants Syrian forces to pull back from positions where Turkey has set up military observation posts.

He has threatened to attack Syrian government forces if they do not halt their advance.

But Syria's government and its ally Russia have rejected his demand to pull back to ceasefire lines agreed in 2018.


Media captionWatch: Turkey's defence ministry reiterates his country's threat to Syria
Russia has also accused Turkey of violating the 2018 ceasefire by backing rebels with artillery fire.
T
he UK-based monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said at least 34 Turkish troops had been killed in Thursday evening's air strike.

The wounded had been brought back to Turkey for treatment, Mr Dogan said.

Meanwhile, Nato-member Turkey said Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had spoken to Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Earlier on Thursday, Mr Erdogan said three Turkish soldiers had been killed in an airstrike in Idlib.

Turkey's defence ministry said it had responded to that incident by hitting Syrian "regime targets".

The latest clashes came after the Turkey-backed rebels said they had retaken the strategic town of Saraqeb from Syrian government forces on Thursday.


Media captionSyrian refugee families on their search for safety
The fighting has driven nearly a million Syrians from their homes since December. The UN said a full-scale battle for Idlib could result in a "bloodbath".

Reuters news agency quoted a senior Turkish official on Thursday as saying that Turkey had decided to stand down its border guards and no longer prevent Syrian refugees from trying to reach Europe. However, this has not been officially confirmed.

Russia has rejected calls in the UN Security Council for a humanitarian ceasefire in northern Syria.

Responding to a statement from Belgium and Germany that the killing of civilians must stop, the Russian ambassador said the only solution was to chase what he called the terrorists from the country.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-51667717

 

[KingKhanWC]

This is a serious escalation imo.

Turkey and it's citizens are very proud, they will want some sort of proportanite response to this which could lead to an all out war.

Stupid by Turkey to invade Syria, nobody comes out shining in such a complex and serious warzone.

 

[sweep_shot]

Turkey is in a lose-lose situation. If they don't attack, they look weak. If they attack, they can suffer more casualties.

This civil war needs to end.

 

[Napa]

Turkey is in a lose-lose situation. If they don't attack, they look weak. If they attack, they can suffer more casualties.

This civil war needs to end.

Though Turkey is a NATO member, it is a defensive pact. So other NATO members are under no obligation to help Turkey unless the fighting spreads to Turkish soil which it won't.

Still a major embarrassment for NATO's European members if Turkey is thrashed by Russia. More like Putin and Erdogan will figure something out as neither wants Turkey to have abandon its SS400 purchase and return to the US with its tail between its legs.

 

[Ronaldo7]

Turkey and Syria going to a war is looking likely

33+ have been killed.
https://twitter.com/TRTWorldNow/status/1233192106367299587

 

[sweep_shot]

Though Turkey is a NATO member, it is a defensive pact. So other NATO members are under no obligation to help Turkey unless the fighting spreads to Turkish soil which it won't.

Still a major embarrassment for NATO's European members if Turkey is thrashed by Russia. More like Putin and Erdogan will figure something out as neither wants Turkey to have abandon its SS400 purchase and return to the US with its tail between its legs.

Can't see NATO helping Turkey here. Helping Turkey means potential war with Russia.

 

[troodon]

Hope US and Europe don’t come to help Turks and that ***** Erdogan.

 

[sweep_shot]

Hope US and Europe don’t come to help Turks and that ***** Erdogan.

Turkey doesn't need help here. Turkey is friend with Russia too. Erdogan and Putin will probably get a deal together.

However, I can see Turkey and Syria exchanging blows.

 

[Napa]

Turkey doesn't need help here. Turkey is friend with Russia too. Erdogan and Putin will probably get a deal together.

However, I can see Turkey and Syria exchanging blows.

Syria and Russia cannot be kept apart. Turkey can't beat up Syria without Russia intervening as Russia has taken the role of Syria's protector. That can only happen if Assad doesn't go along with any plan Putin agrees with Erdogan, and Assad is too smart to make that mistake.

Erdogan's best hope is that Putin is kind enough to give him some face saving solution. The Turkish people are definitely not ready to keep losing their sons in a war they really don't want to be involved in. Turkey has a long history of losing to Russia, from the time of the Ottomans and the Czars. The people will not want a repeat of that.

Turkey's actual problem is refugees, and Assad in power means he can seal the borders and stop the flow of refugees. In the longer term, Putin may even make him agree to a deal in which Syria takes back the refugees.

Erdogan's goal of however being the savior of the Sunni Syrians from the Alawite/Shiite Assad will however fail.

 

[Pakistanian]

Hope US and Europe don’t come to help Turks and that ***** Erdogan.

Turkey is a NATO member state and is of more utility to the west than India.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Hope US and Europe don’t come to help Turks and that ***** Erdogan.

US and NATO may not. Erdogan has burnt those bridges. Now he wants to take on Russia.

Turkey should have never invaded Syria, as its virtually under Russian protection.

Erdogan may have bitten more than he can chew.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Turkey is a NATO member state and is of more utility to the west than India.

A NATO member that has been sanctioned by US.

 

[Ronaldo7]

US and NATO may not. Erdogan has burnt those bridges. Now he wants to take on Russia.

Turkey should have never invaded Syria, as its virtually under Russian protection.

Erdogan may have bitten more than he can chew.

There are millions of Syrian Refugees in Turkey. He had to invade Syria as he had no other option.
Also, you’re talking about Turkey invading, why’s Russia involved?

Take off your Hindutva glasses and look at this in a neutral manner

 

[Knight_Rider]

Erdogan is after the Kurdish rebels in Syria. They have long been a problem for Turkey:

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/wor...to-push-into-syria-shortly-1.4045024?mode=amp

 

[Napa]

There are millions of Syrian Refugees in Turkey. He had to invade Syria as he had no other option.
Also, you’re talking about Turkey invading, why’s Russia involved?

Take off your Hindutva glasses and look at this in a neutral manner

The legitimate government of Syria according to the UN Charter is the one with Assad at its head, unless the Security Council says otherwise. The UN Charter requires other countries to not interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign nations.

The US, Turkey, Saudi, Qatar etc. all started arming rebels back in the early 2010s, in violation of the UN Charter. Russia on the other hand was invited by Assad, so it was not in violation.

Assad is a brutal dictator, but so are the other rulers in that region who rule by military force.

The blame for the refugees also lies with the countries who started this war.

 

[Napa]

US and NATO may not. Erdogan has burnt those bridges. Now he wants to take on Russia.

Turkey should have never invaded Syria, as its virtually under Russian protection.

Erdogan may have bitten more than he can chew.

Erdogan has an inflated sense of his country's abilities. Turkey doesn't produce technology comparable to the US and Russia, yet it believes it can take on both of them.

His foreign policy is in a shambles.

Idlib and the collapse of Erdogan’s foreign policy
Semih Idiz February 27, 2020

The implications of the Turkish-Russian fallout over Idlib go beyond Syria and represent a collapse of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Islamist-driven approach to foreign policy.

Turkey is an isolated country today that has confrontational ties with the United States and Russia, as well as the Arab world and Europe. It is trying to ensure its vital security interests against this difficult backdrop.

<b>But the few friends Ankara has left, such as Qatar, Pakistan or Azerbaijan, provide Turkey with no strategic value that could strengthen its hand against its adversaries.</b>

The only option Erdogan has is to try and play the United States and Russia against each other, as he has been doing for some time now, but this approach seems to also have run its course.

Erdogan’s bellicosity in international relations and disdain for diplomatic niceties as well as the advice of professional diplomats may go down well with his die-hard supporters.

Nevertheless, an increasing number of Turkish analysts — including some former supporters of Erdogan — believe that the situation Ankara finds itself in Syria in particular is largely, if not totally, self-inflicted.

They also fear that a similar debacle is emerging in Libya, where Turkish soldiers have also started to incur losses.

...

https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/or...a-idlib-collapse-erdogans-foreign-policy.html

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Turkey and Syria going to a war is looking likely

33+ have been killed.
https://twitter.com/TRTWorldNow/status/1233192106367299587

Except it won't be Syria Turkey would be going to war with, they would be going to war with Russia.

That is the dilemma for Erdogan, but at the same time he can't afford to sit on his hands either. The influx of refugees from Idlib is putting a massive strain on Turkey, they are already hosting millions from this war. Now Erdogan is threatening to go back on his agreement to stop refugees from entering Europe as they are turning a blind eye to Russia's war in Syria.

 

[cricketjoshila]

There are millions of Syrian Refugees in Turkey. He had to invade Syria as he had no other option.
Also, you’re talking about Turkey invading, why’s Russia involved?

Take off your Hindutva glasses and look at this in a neutral manner

Russia is there on the request of Syrian govt.

Turkey should be looking to seal borders and not go to war with a Russian protectorate.

May be Erdogan didnt realise, Putin isnt Trump.

What's religion got to do here?

 

[cricketjoshila]

Erdogan has an inflated sense of his country's abilities. Turkey doesn't produce technology comparable to the US and Russia, yet it believes it can take on both of them.

His foreign policy is in a shambles.

I was watching a video, from.a Turkish channel, they were saying, there are 25mn muslims in Russia, we are sure Russia will break.

Do they even realize who Putin is and how he deals with his enemies.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Russia is there on the request of Syrian govt.

Turkey should be looking to seal borders and not go to war with a Russian protectorate.

May be Erdogan didnt realise, Putin isnt Trump.

What's religion got to do here?

Syria isn't a Russian protectorate, it is a country which has been ruled by the Assad dynasty through dictatorship. A dynasty which cares so little about it's own citizens it would rather have the Syrian people bombed to oblivion by the Russians than allow them self rule.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Except it won't be Syria Turkey would be going to war with, they would be going to war with Russia.

That is the dilemma for Erdogan, but at the same time he can't afford to sit on his hands either. The influx of refugees from Idlib is putting a massive strain on Turkey, they are already hosting millions from this war. Now Erdogan is threatening to go back on his agreement to stop refugees from entering Europe as they are turning a blind eye to Russia's war in Syria.

Nobody is going to war with Russia for Erdogan. No one.

I just hope there is no war in Turkey. Its a beautiful country. Majestic.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Syria isn't a Russian protectorate, it is a country which has been ruled by the Assad dynasty through dictatorship. A dynasty which cares so little about it's own citizens it would rather have the Syrian people bombed to oblivion by the Russians than allow them self rule.

Assad is under Russian protection. He basically invited Russia to provide security.

 

[Napa]

Posters are quite ignorant of international law.

Russia, Syria, Turkey, the US, Saudi, Qatar etc. are all signatories to the UN Charter which says other nations are not to interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign nations. That means the Syrian government (the one recognized by the UN) is well within its rights to ask for Russian military help, but Turkey's incursion into Syria is an illegal invasion.

No way out for Erdogan from Syria and Libya except in defeat. He has overreached himself. Quite an idiot actually, he picks up unnecessary fights with countries like India though he is facing defeat on other fronts.

 

[Knight_Rider]

Posters are quite ignorant of international law.

Russia, Syria, Turkey, the US, Saudi, Qatar etc. are all signatories to the UN Charter which says other nations are not to interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign nations. That means the Syrian government (the one recognized by the UN) is well within its rights to ask for Russian military help, but Turkey's incursion into Syria is an illegal invasion.

No way out for Erdogan from Syria and Libya except in defeat. He has overreached himself. Quite an idiot actually, he picks up unnecessary fights with countries like India though he is facing defeat on other fronts.

That law is only selectively applied like all other UN laws. Erdogan is only fighting with Kurdish rebels and not directly with Syrian regime. Good luck to him.

 

[Knight_Rider]

The indians are sour because Erdogan spoke in Pakistans favour.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Assad is under Russian protection. He basically invited Russia to provide security.

Of course he did. That is to protect his own personal dynasty at the expense of his own cities and people, whom he is quite happy to see bombed to oblivion by the Russians as long as he stays in power. Without their help he would have been wiped out.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

The indians are sour because Erdogan spoke in Pakistans favour.

Not all Indians, only the rabid Hindutvas will be.

 

[JaDed]

There are millions of Syrian Refugees in Turkey. He had to invade Syria as he had no other option.
Also, you’re talking about Turkey invading, why’s Russia involved?

Take off your Hindutva glasses and look at this in a neutral manner

The irony of the post.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

The irony of the post.

What's ironic about it?

 

[Syed1]

Inna lillahi wa inna illahi rajioon.... I hope Turkey avenges their deaths.

 

[AdamM97]

I can’t see a war between Turkey and Syria which is supported by Russia.

Turkey and Russia are in the middle of a deal regarding Libya. I doubt they’ll risk a flat-out war with each other.

 

[Napa]

That law is only selectively applied like all other UN laws. Erdogan is only fighting with Kurdish rebels and not directly with Syrian regime. Good luck to him.

Wrong!

Erdogan is fighting Kurdish rebels... AND now the Syrian Army. Both within Syria's territorial boundaries and all in violation of the UN Charter. The only remaining card he has left to play is the threat of sending millions of refugees into Europe.

It places leaders like Merkel in a no-win situation. Merkel has done everything to antagonize Putin with the overthrow of a democratically elected President in Ukraine, followed by sanctions against Russia.

Now, with Erdogan threatening to send more refugees into Europe, Merkel must either deny or give him the military assistance he seeks. Military assistance in the form of troops is a non-starter, and in the form of materiale may not be enough.

If she denies him, her hope is that Putin will be kind to her and give Erdogan a face-saving exit.

Or maybe Merkel will just wait it out as she is going to be gone soon, and leave the mess for her successor to deal with.

I am not saying that countries should adhere to the UN Charter all the time. India doesn't in the case of Kashmir. However, if one believes the UN Charter is international law, then Turkey is conducting an illegal war.

 

[JaDed]

What's ironic about it?

That Erdogan “had” to invade Syria and then he asks why Russia is involved and tops it up with “take off your Hindutva glasses.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Of course he did. That is to protect his own personal dynasty at the expense of his own cities and people, whom he is quite happy to see bombed to oblivion by the Russians as long as he stays in power. Without their help he would have been wiped out.

Ofcourse Assad is a dictator but his regime is still the UN recognized regime.

 

[cricketjoshila]

The indians are sour because Erdogan spoke in Pakistans favour.

Or may be Russia is an Indian Ally for decades? No?

 

[JaDed]

The bias in the posts is clear example of how religious bias cannot be seen by oneself, now only if this was a western country, it’s easier to blame Joshila but maybe time to realize religious biases have become a norm and most of them are suffering from it.


Idlib is a city in northwestern Syria, 59 kilometers southwest of Aleppo, which is the capital of the Idlib Governorate.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

That Erdogan “had” to invade Syria and then he asks why Russia is involved and tops it up with “take off your Hindutva glasses.

What has Syria got to do with Hindus?

 

[JaDed]

What has Syria got to do with Hindus?

Ask Ronaldo..

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Ask Ronaldo..

Why? Is he a Hindu?

 

[JaDed]

Why? Is he a Hindu?

No he is the one who mentioned it, am sorry is there a point you are trying to make and can you be clear on it?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

No he is the one who mentioned it, am sorry is there a point you are trying to make and can you be clear on it?

A lot of Indians posting on this thread seem to be backing Assad's murderous regime over Turkey, just wondering why that would be.

 

[Ronaldo7]

That Erdogan “had” to invade Syria and then he asks why Russia is involved and tops it up with “take off your Hindutva glasses.

I’ m saying that if you’re gonna criticise Turkey then criticise Russia too.
Stop being a hypocrite

 

[Ronaldo7]

No he is the one who mentioned it, am sorry is there a point you are trying to make and can you be clear on it?

It’s obvious why Hindutva gangboys such as Joshila are criticising turkey.

No one is gonna spoon feed you here

 

[cricketjoshila]

It’s obvious why Hindutva gangboys such as Joshila are criticising turkey.

No one is gonna spoon feed you here

Because Russia is an Indian Ally? For about 50 years?

Its obvious why you are supporting Erdogan. No?

 

[cricketjoshila]

I’ m saying that if you’re gonna criticise Turkey then criticise Russia too.
Stop being a hypocrite

Why should i criticize Russia? Its in Syria at the invite of the Syrian govt.

 

[Knight_Rider]

A lot of Indians posting on this thread seem to be backing Assad's murderous regime over Turkey, just wondering why that would be.

Because Erdogan stepped on their tail recently. Also on one hand they are harping about being Russia’s allu for last 50 years but have just recently been dancing infront of Do-Lun-d Trump.

Issi liay i said zaroorat pe Gadhay ko bhi Baap banna saktay hain.

 

[Knight_Rider]

Why should i criticize Russia? Its in Syria at the invite of the Syrian govt.

Oh no, yeh kya upman kar diya Erdogan ne but hold on isnt Asad a dictator? And it surely must be against the principles of worlds Largest democracy to support a dictator.

 

[JaDed]

I’ m saying that if you’re gonna criticise Turkey then criticise Russia too.
Stop being a hypocrite

Yeah both are ....and should just back off

 

[Napa]

Yeah both are ....and should just back off

Assad would be in full control of Syria if the US, Turkey, Saudi and Qatar had not started arming the rebels in 2010.

Russia was a late entrant into this war. Russia has been invited to this war by the legitimate Syrian government, so its involvement is legal while Turkey's is not as per the UN Charter.

Putin, unlike Bush and Obama, doesn't get involved in wars unless he has a clear path to victory. Bush started the Iraq and Afgan wars, and the US faces defeat in both. Obama was part of the group which started the Syrian war, and in that too their chosen side will be defeated.

Putin's calculation was that there was an ally in Syria which could provide sufficient manpower to prevail if provided help. The idiots Bush and Obama started wars without this calculation.

That is why after a few years Putin and Assad are on the verge of victory. Nor are Putin and Assad willing to leave a diminished enemy who can create trouble later, hence their attack on Idlib. Once that has been recaptured, there will not be significant rebel powers left within Syria.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Because Erdogan stepped on their tail recently. Also on one hand they are harping about being Russia’s allu for last 50 years but have just recently been dancing infront of Do-Lun-d Trump.

Issi liay i said zaroorat pe Gadhay ko bhi Baap banna saktay hain.

But they were posting similar stuff before Erdogan even mentioned India. Russia is also an ally of Iran which is being attacked by Baghwan Trump, how is that going to end?

 

[Knight_Rider]

Another twist in the game:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51678462

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Another twist in the game:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51678462

No doubt some US based Indian will have something to say about that, without having the slightest clue about Europe, or even a visible presence in the US.

 

[cric_man]

Assad would be in full control of Syria if the US, Turkey, Saudi and Qatar had not started arming the rebels in 2010.

Russia was a late entrant into this war. Russia has been invited to this war by the legitimate Syrian government, so its involvement is legal while Turkey's is not as per the UN Charter.

Putin, unlike Bush and Obama, doesn't get involved in wars unless he has a clear path to victory. Bush started the Iraq and Afgan wars, and the US faces defeat in both. Obama was part of the group which started the Syrian war, and in that too their chosen side will be defeated.

Putin's calculation was that there was an ally in Syria which could provide sufficient manpower to prevail if provided help. The idiots Bush and Obama started wars without this calculation.

That is why after a few years Putin and Assad are on the verge of victory. Nor are Putin and Assad willing to leave a diminished enemy who can create trouble later, hence their attack on Idlib. Once that has been recaptured, there will not be significant rebel powers left within Syria.

It is an oppressive dictatorship.
You keep touting the US government. They don't even recognize the current Venezuelan gov? So how come a dictatorship is legitimate.
Assad is in power because of a oppressive military backed by Iranian, Russian militaries that subjugating the majority population with brutal tactics.

 

[Napa]

It is an oppressive dictatorship.

Lots of oppressive dictatorships in that region. Egypt, Jordan, Saudi, Qatar etc. Others being oppressive dictatorships doesn't make Assad right, but sadly it seems to be the only option in that region. An ISIS or Al Qaeda government would no doubt have been worse.

You keep touting the US government. They don't even recognize the current Venezuelan gov? So how come a dictatorship is legitimate.

I don't "keep touting" the US government. It has many flaws. The neocons like Nuland and her husband Kagan who had a lot of influence in the last two administrations were warmongers. If you read my posts #15, #23 and #49, you will see I have called the US role in starting the Syrian War illegal according to the UN Charter.

Assad is in power because of a oppressive military backed by Iranian, Russian militaries that subjugating the majority population with brutal tactics.

So are all the other military dictatorships in the region. Saudis sent tanks in 2011 to Bahrain to crush protests.

 

[Saeed]

Huge losses for Assadists in Turkish drone strikes over last week. If this continues, eventually Russian invaders will be forced to make some kind of deal with Turkey. Probably withdraw back to borders agreed in sochi or risk losing even more to rebels.

 

[Napa]

Huge losses for Assadists in Turkish drone strikes over last week. If this continues, eventually Russian invaders will be forced to make some kind of deal with Turkey. Probably withdraw back to borders agreed in sochi or <b>risk losing even more to rebels.</b>

Have the rebels actually gained territory? Do you have a source for that?

"Huge losses" can be fakenews. Only thing that can be believed is territorial gains and losses.

 

[Saeed]

Turkey lost a drone today, meanwhile Turkey shot down two Regime jets. Regime lost two helicopters few weeks ago along with pilots and now two jets. Safe to say even Russia wouldn’t be willing to replace those without more phosphates mines. Even if Turkey reduces its presence after a month or two, regime would lose a lot of its capabilities and capacity to launch more attacks.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkey-shoots-down-2-syrian-jets-in-western-idlib/

Meanwhile Iran is threatening Turkey over its Pakistani/Afghani cannon fodder lost due to Turkish drones.

 

[saeedhk]

Turkey has no business being in Syria. Hopefully, Erdogan will pay dearly for this misadventure. He wants to portray himself as some sort of macho.

 

[Saeed]

Pantsir missile system destroyed(2nd one over the last week) by Turkey today and they also shot down Regime’s L-39. One pilot died, other one was rescued according to pro-regime source below.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-went-behind-enemy-lines-to-save-pilot-in-idlib/

 

[Abdullah719]

Erdogan to meet Putin with hopes of reaching Idlib ceasefire

Spoiler

As the Turkish and Russian presidents prepare to meet in Moscow for talks, fighting has all but intensified over the last weeks in Syria's northwestern Idlib province.

Two Turkish soldiers died on Wednesday in a new Syrian assault, which prompted Ankara to retaliate by striking military objectives.

On Thursday, Russian airstrikes in Idlib killed 16 civilians, according to Syrian civil defence group While Helmets, while Turkish Defence Ministry said 184 Syrian government forces were killed in the last 24 hours.

This comes a week after at least 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in an air strike by the Syrian government forces, which prompted Ankara shortly after to launch a military operation in the region.

Ankara says its army downed three Syrian government planes, destroyed hundreds of vehicles and equipment, and killed more than 3,000 government soldiers since the operation was launched.

According to the UN, since December, one million people, mainly women and children, have fled fighting in Idlib, after the Syrian government launched a military assault in the last opposition-held stronghold in the country.

Thursday's meeting in Moscow, arranged before those heavy losses, takes an even more crucial turn as it becomes a ground for salvaging a deteriorating relationship between two economic partners.

Ahead of his visit, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he expected the talks with his counterpart Vladimir Putin to result in the rapid achievement of a ceasefire.

The president's spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin told a press conference on Wednesday that "our main aim is immediate ceasefire within the framework of the Idlib agreement we signed with the Russian Federation".

Russia, meanwhile, will try to maintain a tricky balance between sparing Turkey while supporting Bashar al-Assad.

"This is still in play and Moscow’s main goal will be to force Ankara to accept a new reality on the ground that Syria will not roll back to previous positions," said Marianna Belenkaya, a Russia in the Middle East expert and Carnegie Moscow fellow.

"Both parties will have to give in on something in order to broker a ceasefire, and for Russia that means guaranteeing to Turkey that the Syrian offensive will stop soon."

Muhittin Ataman, an Ankara-based Turkish professor of international relations, said the problems in Syria until now have been resolved through meetings between the two leaders.

"The bureaucratic and diplomatic talks before that did not make much progress in the previous years. This includes the 2018 Sochi agreement," Ataman told Al Jazeera.

"And at the point we are at right now, particularly on the ground in Syria, this meeting seems to be the last hope for both sides to resolve the crisis."

Both sides are unhappy with each other’s efforts to implement the Sochi agreements on Syria signed in September 2018.

Russia accuses Turkey of not doing enough to separate "moderate" rebels from extremists and "terrorists". Ankara says Moscow breached the ceasefire agreed upon in 2018 numerous times and is not doing enough to reign Damascus in.

Damascus and Moscow say their operation is aimed at clearing "terrorists" from the region, in line with the 2018 deal.

The Hay'et Tahrir al-Sham armed group, a former al-Qaeda affiliate that is considered by Russia and Turkey a "terrorist" organisation, controls a large portion of Idlib.

"Russia, though, has recently let Ankara use its drones," said Anton Mardasov, a non-resident expert of the Russian International Affairs Council.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Kremlin knows the meeting "will be difficult" but hopes new agreements will be found in the Sochi framework.

"I still expect Putin and Erdogan to reach agreements," said Mardasov. "For instance, the introduction of a bufferzone in the area of the M4 and M5 motorways and, possibly, of Turkish posts."

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020...reaching-idlib-ceasefire-200305064415351.html

 

[IAJ]

Assad would be in full control of Syria if the US, Turkey, Saudi and Qatar had not started arming the rebels in 2010.

Russia was a late entrant into this war. Russia has been invited to this war by the legitimate Syrian government, so its involvement is legal while Turkey's is not as per the UN Charter.

Putin, unlike Bush and Obama, doesn't get involved in wars unless he has a clear path to victory. Bush started the Iraq and Afgan wars, and the US faces defeat in both. Obama was part of the group which started the Syrian war, and in that too their chosen side will be defeated.

Putin's calculation was that there was an ally in Syria which could provide sufficient manpower to prevail if provided help. The idiots Bush and Obama started wars without this calculation.

That is why after a few years Putin and Assad are on the verge of victory. Nor are Putin and Assad willing to leave a diminished enemy who can create trouble later, hence their attack on Idlib. Once that has been recaptured, there will not be significant rebel powers left within Syria.

So USA getting involved in war in Iraq and Syria was illeagal right?

 

[IAJ]

Turkey has no business being in Syria. Hopefully, Erdogan will pay dearly for this misadventure. He wants to portray himself as some sort of macho.

I see. Did you say the same about USA in Syria, just asking.

 

[saeedhk]

I see. Did you say the same about USA in Syria, just asking.

A million times. The fact that the Americans are occupying Syrian oilfields is a slap on the UN’s face!

 

[Uzi]

Brawl erupts in Turkish parliament over Syria military action

Things just escalated a bit in the Turkish parliament.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world...turkish-parliament-over-syria-military-action

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

A million times. The fact that the Americans are occupying Syrian oilfields is a slap on the UN’s face!

Maybe when Russia and the US withdraw from Syria, Turkey will agree to as well.

 

[Pakpak]

I can't disagree with Turkey, there are 4 million refugees there. Maybe we should have done this as well. Make a safe zone in Afghanistan for the refugees to stay in instead of taking on millions of ungrateful refugees.

 

[Napa]

So USA getting involved in war in Iraq and Syria was illeagal right?

On Iraq Bush wrangled some sort of resolution at the Security Council, but quite likely that was not enough and the war was illegal according to the UN Charter.

Syria there was no Security Council resolution at all, and the covert help given to the Syrian rebels by the US, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi was all illegal according to the UN Charter.

 

[JaDed]

Things just escalated a bit in the Turkish parliament.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world...turkish-parliament-over-syria-military-action

Lol so much like South Asia

 

[sweep_shot]

Syria war: 'Russian air strikes kill dozens' in Idlib

Russian air strikes in northern Syria have killed more than 50 Turkish-backed militia fighters in the mainly rebel-held province of Idlib, reports say.

Many others were wounded in the attack, which marks an escalation of violence in the region.

A training base for an Islamist group called Faylaq al-Sham was hit.

The assault puts at risk a ceasefire in Idlib, brokered and monitored by Russia and Turkey, which back opposite sides in the war.

UK-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the number of dead at 78.

Some of the wounded were in a serious condition, and the death toll was likely to rise, the Observatory added.

It described the attack - in the Harem region north-west of Idlib city - as the deadliest since the ceasefire came into force in March.

The truce brought to a halt a Syrian government offensive on the region which had displaced almost a million people, and has largely held since then.

When the ceasefire was announced, Turkey said it reserved the right to "retaliate with all its strength" against any attack by forces allied to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Idlib is the last province held by rebels and jihadists, who have been beaten back in a nine-year-long civil war.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-54693472.