PodcastTurkey says ceasefire holds in Syria's Idlib, Russia reports some shootings
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on March 7 there had been no violations of the ceasefire in Syria's Idlib, as part of the agreement reached between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on March 5, while Russia said there have been a few shootings in the region. A day earlier, Putin told Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that the agreement would stabilize the situation in Idlib.
Reuters
Uneasy calm in Syria's Idlib as Russia-Turkey ceasefire takes effectTurkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on March 7 there had been no violations of the ceasefire in Syria's Idlib, as part of an agreement with Russia, while Russia said there have been a few shootings in the region.
"We will continue to be a deterrent force to prevent any violation to the ceasefire. None occurred since ceasefire entered into force," the Turkish Defense Ministry quoted Akar as saying.
The ceasefire was reached in Moscow on March 5 after talks to contain an escalating conflict.
Nearly a million people have been displaced in a three-month Russian-backed offensive by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces in northwest Syria. Ankara supports rebel fighters, although it has less sway over jihadists who control large parts of Idlib.
Russian news agencies, citing the defense ministry, said there have been three cases of shooting in Idlib in the past 24 hours.
US welcomes ceasefire in IdlibIt also said there were seven cases of shootings in Latakia and nine in Aleppo. The defence ministry also reported that 860 refugees have returned to Syria from Jordan and Lebanon for the past day.
Akar also said Turkey would use its right to self-defence if there is any attack targeting its forces or bases in the region.
The deal called for joint patrols of Turkish and Russian forces around the M4 road in Idlib region starting on March 15.
Turkey has started to work on the procedures and principles of the safety corridor around the road, Akar said, adding that a Russian military delegation will visit Ankara next week for discussions.
Russia and Turkey back opposing sides in Syria's nine-year conflict, with Moscow supporting Assad and Turkey backing some rebel groups. Several previous deals to end the fighting in Idlib have collapsed.
Turkey to activate S-400 missile defense systems in AprilOn March 6, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Assad in a phone call that agreements reached between Russia and Turkey at recent talks would stabilize the situation in Syria's Idlib province, the Kremlin said.
"Bashar al-Assad rated the outcome of the talks between the leaders of Russia and Turkey highly and expressed his gratitude to Russia's president for supporting the fight against terrorist groups," the Kremlin statement said.