Will Russia, Turkey go to war over Syria's Idlib?
Matters have gone from bad to worse in Idlib and the stakes for Moscow and Ankara are rising.
MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone today with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan concerning the recent escalation in Idlib. The day before, airstrikes from the Syrian army — with backing from Moscow — reportedly killed over 30 Turkish servicemen and injured more than 70.
“[The presidents] exchanged views on the situiaon in Syria in detail. A serious concern over the escalation of tensions in Idlib was expressed that entailed multiple casualties, including among the Turkish military. The importance of raising the efficiency of coordination channels between the defense ministries of Russia and Turkey was stressed,” stated a readout of the conversation from the Kremlin.
It added, “Both parties emphasized the need to adopt additional measures in order to normalize the situation in the northwest of Syria. [The parties] agreed to intensify relevant interagency consultations and explore the possibility of holding a top-level meeting in the immediate future."
"The fight against international terrorist groups was highlighted as a priority," the statement read.
