Turkey Coordinates Actions on Syria With Russia

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has commented on the new Turkish operation in Idlib, which is the second Turkish military campaign in the Syrian territory.

“The Turkish side is responsible for ensuring security in the de-escalation zone. … Without a doubt, the member states to the Astana agreements coordinate their actions on the issue of establishment of de-escalation zones,” Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked whether Turkey was coordinating its actions with Russia, Sputnik reported.

Commenting on reports regarding Turkey’s alleged attempts to come to a ceasefire agreement in the Idlib Province with terrorist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group affiliated with Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, Peskov said it was better to ask the Defense Ministry about that, as he had “no details.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced plans to deploy the country’s soldiers to Syria’s Idlib, where Free Syrian Army rebel fighters backed by Ankara have launched an operation against al-Nusra Front terrorists on October 7.

Commenting on the Idlib operation, the Turkish prime minister, Binali Yildirim, said that Ankara’s actions in Idlib are coordinated with Moscow. The Russian Defense Ministry hasn’t yet commented on Turkey’s operation, however, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier that Russia is ready to support armed groups fighting al-Nusra Front in Syria’s Idlib de-escalation zone.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the Turkish Armed Forces, operating in the Idlib de-escalation zone to observe the cease-fire, ensure humanitarian aid deliveries and create conditions for the population to return to their homes. They began setting up their observation posts on October 12, within the framework of agreements reached during the Astana peace talks brokered by Iran, Russia, and Turkey.