Russia, Iran must 'stop the regime' in Idlib, pleads Turkish FM

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry summoned the charge d’affaires of the United States, Philip Kosnett, today, making him the third foreign envoy to be called in the past 24 hours amid rising tensions with Russia over the Syrian government’s ongoing offensive in Idlib.

On Tuesday, Turkey gathered Russia and Iran’s ambassadors to air its displeasure, saying the offensive must be called off immediately. Turkey is protesting the Syrian regime's advances against the biggest remaining opposition stronghold in Syria on the grounds that regime troops are targeting jihadis and moderate rebels alike, thus undermining efforts to negotiate a peaceful solution to the Syrian conflict.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu pointed the finger of blame at Russia and Iran. He told the state-run Anadolu news agency in an interview today, “If you are guarantors — yes, you are — you should stop the regime. It’s not just a simple airstrike. The regime is moving in Idlib. The intent here is different.”

Cavusoglu suggested that the goal may be to “make some unwilling opposition groups go to Sochi.” He was referring to a planned national dialogue conference in the Russian Black Sea resort later this month. “It will backfire,” he claimed. It remains unclear how or whether the United States, whose military presence is confined to the swath of Syrian Kurdish-controlled territory falling between the Euphrates River and Iraq, can intervene.