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Russia seeks to hold reluctant Turkey accountable in Syria

Turkey once again finds itself in the middle in the Syrian crisis, trying to reassure the opposition groups it supports while keeping Russia happy.
A column of armoured Turkish military vehicles drives along a road in the de-militarised zone in the northwestern Syrian town of Khan Sheikhun on March 17, 2019. - Khan Sheikhun is supposed to be protected by an internationally brokered ceasefire deal, but increased shelling and air strikes by regime forces last month have left its streets near empty. (Photo by - / AFP)        (Photo credit should read -/AFP/Getty Images)
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Turkey, which is badly pressed to fulfill the commitments it made to Russia during the Sochi negotiations on Syria, and to the local opposition to the Syrian regime, which it promised to protect at Idlib, is now trying to find a way to extricate itself from being stuck between Russia and the Syrian rebels.

When Turkey’s campaign to create a buffer zone east of the Euphrates River did not work out, Russia succeeded in dragging Turkey back to the Idlib agenda. On March 3-4, Russia and Turkey signed a new accord to follow up on the issues discussed during the Iran, Russia and Turkey summit Feb. 14 in Sochi.

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