Turkish troops in northwest Syria (File)


Pushing back against the Assad regime and Russia, Turkey has reiterated that it will safeguard opposition-held Idlib Province in northwest Syria.

Presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın issued the statement on Friday after a meeting with the US envoy for Syria, James Jeffrey, in Istanbul.

Kalın chided “violations of the cease-fire and the brutality of the Assad regime”, while avoiding any mention of Moscow.

In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced a ceasefire. The agreement halted an 11-month Russia-regime offensive that seized almost all of northern Hama Province and part of southern Idlib. About 2,000 civilians were killed, thousands wounded, and more than 1 million displaced.

But regime forces have continued shelling of the “de-escalation zone”. Anti-Assad fighters have responded with raids on regime checkpoints. There have also been attacks on Turkish and Russian patrols along the cross-Idlib M4 highway.

Russia has occasionally bombed Idlib and western Aleppo Province, including strikes on civilian sites. Two weeks ago, the Foreign Ministry threatened a resumption of the offensive, “eliminating the epicenter of terrorism”.

“Regime Efforts to Sabotage Political Process”

Kalın also accused the Assad regime of “efforts to sabotage the political process”, obstructing the 2 1/2-year effort for a new Constitution.

First proposed in January 2018, a 150-member Constitutional Committee has finally been established. However, the regime has balked at discussions, insisting on a priority for “sovereignty” and initatives against “terrorism”.

Earlier this week, the Committee’s meeting in Geneva, Switzerland was suspended when four members of the regime delegation tested positive for Coronavirus.

Kalın called for acceleration of the Committee’s work, an environment for free and just elections, and efforts for the voluntary and safe return of refugees.

The Turkish official also pressed Ankara’s campaign against the Syrian Kurdish authority that controls much of northeast Syria.

He denounced the Kurdish militia YPG, which Turkey says is part of the Turkish Kurdish insurgency PKK: “There should be a collaborative effort in the fight against ISIL [Islamic State], PKK/YPG, and all terrorist groups in Syria.”