Erdogan: Intense Contacts with Russia to Protect Idlib Civilians

Arab World

January 27th, 7:41am

Ankara - Saeed Abdelrazek

Caption: File photo. Smoke billows from a building following a reported bombardment by pro-Syrian government forces in the town of Maaret al-Numan in Syria's Idlib province (AFP)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed Sunday that Ankara was holding consultations with Moscow to protect Syrian civilians from raids launched by Syrian government forces on the city of Idlib. During a press conference in Istanbul before travelling to Algeria, the Turkish President told reporters that work was underway to construct homes inside Syria for people fleeing the war-torn country's last opposition-held stronghold. "In an area 30-40 kilometers deep in Syria close to our border, we have planned to build, not a tent city, but homes, and the construction has begun," he said. "We want our Idlib brothers and sisters to take shelter in winter here.” Syrian regime attacks on southern Idlib have increased since December, leaving more than 358,000 people displaced, according to United Nations figures. Last week, Erdogan announced that his country will launch a new campaign to help the displaced people of Idlib. Turkey would start building temporary houses from bricks and covered with insulation near the Syrian-Turkish border, he added. Erdogan stressed that around 400,000 people in Idlib were fleeing toward the Turkish border, urging the international community to support Ankara’s efforts in shouldering its burden. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there were fierce clashes between opposition factions and regime troops on the frontlines of Khalseh and Al-Humayrah in the south of Aleppo. It said the clashes followed a new attempt by the regime to advance into the area, amid Russian aerial bombardment and exchange of rocket fire between the regime and the factions. The Observatory said it learned that the factions and extremist groups advanced in the areas of Mushaymis, Samaka and Al-Berseh, northeast of Maarrat Al-Numan. It said four militants and eight regime soldiers were killed on Sunday during battles in the northeastern countryside of Maarrat Al-Numan.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2101336/erdogan-intense-contacts-russia-protect-idlib-civilians