Turkish armed forces complete their first patrol in Syria's Idlib in coordination with Russia
Turkey and Russia began joint patrols in and around the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib on Friday under a deal reached last fall between the two countries.The route of patrol includes six points –– Kafr Lusin and Al Dana, districts north of Idlib; Atarib town west of Aleppo city; and Qammari, Qanater and Al Eiss towns southwest of Aleppo city.
The deal last September set up a demilitarised zone in Idlib and other areas, but the Syrian regime has repeatedly violated the ceasefire in Idlib, Turkey’s Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said.Akar said Turkish policy towards neighbouring countries, especially Iraq and Syria, is based on their territorial and political sovereignty.
He called Turkey holding contacts with the Syrian regime "out of the question," but pointed out that Ankara has been holding talks with Moscow, and occasionally Tehran, on the situation in Syria.Turkey has never had any problems with the Kurdish population or other ethnicities in Syria, as its army only strikes at terrorist nests, he explained.
Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity. Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million others displaced, according to UN officials.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Turkey, Russia begin patrols around Idlib, Syria - defence ministerTurkey and Russia have begun patrols in and around the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib on Friday under a deal reached last fall between the two countries
Read more »
US delegation in Turkey discuss Syria pulloutUS pullout from Syria and the area east of the Euphrates River, where Turkey has promised a counter-terrorist operation, topped the agenda in Ankara during the second bilateral Turkish-US group meeting
Read more »
Israel, Russia to cooperate on foreign troop exit from Syria - NetanyahuIsrael and Russia will work together on securing an exit of foreign forces from ...
Read more »
A Russian propaganda outlet prospers in TurkeySputnik has helped to drum up support for the rapprochement between Turkey and Russia
Read more »
Erdogan says Turkey will not go back on missile defense deal with RussiaTurkey will not go back on its agreement to buy S-400 missile defense systems fr...
Read more »
US to end trade preferences for Turkey, IndiaTurkey’s removal from Generalized System of Preferences programme follows sufficient economic development, the US Trade Representative’s office says.
Read more »
Trump kicks India, Turkey out of trade preference programIndia’s termination from the program follows its failure to provide the U.S. with assurances that it will give equitable and reasonable access to its markets.
Read more »
US general hopes Turkey reconsiders purchase of S-400 defence systemUS State Department says Washington has made clear to Turkey that if it proceeds with the purchase of a Russian air defense system, the US will have to reassess Ankara's participation in the F-35 fighter programme
Read more »
Top US commander in Europe recommends not selling Lockheed Martin's F-35 jets to TurkeyIn short, these two big ticket weapons systems, the S-400 and the F-35, can be used against each other.
Read more »