The escalation of the Syrian regime and its allies in Idlib aims at enabling the regime to expand its areas of control, according toTurkish diplomatic sources.
The sources pointed out that Turkey deals with this escalation in the framework of agreements reached with various parties on the de-escalation zone in Idlib through Astana talks and Sochi agreement on the demilitarized buffer zone that was reached with Russia.
Turkey continues talks with Moscow and Tehran to maintain the cease-fire agreement and reduce the escalation, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat, adding that the ongoing contacts with Moscow are important given the existing coordination on Idlib.
The contacts are at the level of politicians, military and intelligence bodies with Russia to stop the attacks and conduct joint patrols in Tel Rifaat, sources explained.
They said they come following the attack carried out by Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) last Saturday, killing a Turkish officer and wounding another.
There are several points of dispute between Moscow and Ankara over the explanation of the agreement on Syria's Idlib, reached between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in September 17, 2018.
Moscow believes Ankara hasn’t fulfilled its commitments to expel the terrorist groups, especially Nusra Front from Idlib or to open the M5 and M4 roads linking the government-controlled cities.
The first few days of the attack targeted towns in northern Hama and southern Idlib province within the buffer zone agreed on between Russia and Turkey under the Sochi agreement, which avoided a major attack on Idlib, the last major stronghold of the Syrian opposition.
Russia and the Syrian regime say they are responding to an escalation by militant attacks on government-controlled areas and deny indiscriminate attacks.
However, medics and rescuers said the attacks killed dozens of civilians in recent days, destroyed at least five medical centers and paralyzed daily life.
Speaking at a NATO meeting in the capital Ankara on Monday, Erdogan pointed to his country’s successful efforts in restoring peace in Idlib.
“In this way, we have not only saved the lives of thousands of innocent Syrians but also prevented a new irregular wave of refugees from heading toward Europe,” he stressed.
