Turkey calls on Russia, Iran to get Syrian army under control

The Syrian army's attacks against armed groups at Idlib could ignite tensions between Russia and Turkey.
Opposition fighters prepare to fire missiles from a village near al-Tamanah during ongoing battles with government forces in Syria's Idlib province on January 11, 2018. The regime hopes to seize control of southeast parts of Idlib province to secure a main road between the capital Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo. / AFP PHOTO / OMAR HAJ KADOUR (Photo credit should read OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP/Getty Images)
Opposition fighters prepare to fire missiles during ongoing battles with government forces, al-Tamanah, Idlib province, Syria, Jan. 11, 2018. - OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP/Getty Images
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Fehim Tastekin
@fehimtastekin
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Even as Russia plans further peace talks aimed at ending the Syrian civil war, elite Syrian army forces are tearing through Idlib province, wrenching control of towns along the way from jihadi forces — or, as some believe, moderate opposition fighters

​The Syrian army's ultimate objective is to control Idlib city. The first phase of its operations on Dec. 26 targeted Abu Zuhur base from Ashtan. The army's elite Tiger Forces moved rapidly under Russian air support and on Jan. 9 captured 12 settlements, moving to within a few miles of the base.

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