Russia, Turkey, and Iran have agreed to make further efforts to ensure calm in Syria’s Idlib de-escalation area, the three countries said in a joint statement after talks in Kazakhstan.
They “highlighted the necessity to maintain calm on the ground by fully implementing all agreements on Idlib” without specifying what that meant for Turkey’s plans to conduct a military operation against the Kurdish-led YPG group there.
Ankara says it must act in Syria because Washington and Moscow broke promises to push the predominantly Kurdish group YPG 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the border after a 2019 Turkish offensive, and says attacks from YPG-controlled areas have increased.
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Earlier in June, Turkey’s president voiced hoped that Ankara’s allies would “understand and respect” its announced operation against Kurdish militants in northern Syria, after Washington denounced the planned offensive.
Read more:
Russia tried to talk Turkey out of Syria operation: Report
Kremlin says Turkish operation in Syria won’t facilitate stability
Syrian rebels says ready to back Turkish-operation in northeast
