US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu discussed by phone on Tuesday the Syrian crisis and the diplomatic crisis between their two countries, announced the State Department.
Both diplomats agreed the Syrian regime’s expected military offensive in Idlib would be “an unacceptable, reckless escalation,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.
Turkish diplomatic sources said that the telephone call was made at Pompeo’s request.
Despite the tensions between Ankara and Washington, cooperation is ongoing between them over the implementation of a roadmap in the northern Syrian region of Manbij.
The two sides agreed in June to force out the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) from the area and deploy Turkish and American patrols there until a local council is established to administer civilian affairs.
Meanwhile, as the Syrian regime looks more likely to be launching its military offensive, backed by its Russian and Iranian allies, against the northwestern Idlib province, Turkish forces continued to send military reinforcements to the border with Syria.
Military sources said the reinforcements were part of preparations to deal with the massive wave of refugees that will be sparked by the assault.
Ankara has repeatedly warned of the dire humanitarian consequences of a regime offensive on Idlib, which is home to some 3 million people, many of whom have been displaced from other parts of the country.
