Ahead of the meeting between the Turkish delegation visiting Moscow and Russia on Monday, Syrian President al-Assad’s forces advance to take hold of the north-western regions of Syria
The Syrian forces have taken over most of the provinces that were under the control of the rebels who once toppled his government in 2012. The Russian-backed Syrian offensive in Idlib has significantly advanced towards the last major stronghold of the rebels.
The nine-year-long Syrian war between the al-Assad’s government and the rebels has strained the relations between Russia and Turkey who support the opposing sides in the conflict.
The meeting held between Turkey and Russia in Ankara failed to reach an agreement on both sides, last week. The Turkish and Russian officials will discuss in another round of negotiations, in Moscow this week, to call for a lasting ceasefire in Syria.
The Syrian forces came in confrontation with the US troops patrolling along its border last week. US President Trump has voiced his concerns over the catastrophic violence by the Syrian government and called for Moscow to stop backing Assad’s forces.
Turkey’s President Erdogan has warned Syria of retaliation if its forces did not move behind the four Turkish military posts that they have surrounded at its border, by the end of February.
UN calls the Syrian war as the “biggest humanitarian horror story of the 21st century”
President Trump in conversation with his Turkish counterpart appreciated the efforts of Ankara in containing an impending refugee crisis and averting “humanitarian catastrophe” along its border.
According to the UN report, the number of Syrian citizens stuck between the Syria-Turkey borders has reached over 900,000. The situation in Idlib has deteriorated to the worst on the humanitarian grounds.
The UN has warned about the devastating aftermath of the ongoing Syrian operation, calling it as the “biggest humanitarian horror story of the 21st century”.
The belligerent assault by the Syrian troops since December has destroyed the cities across its northern province and displaced thousands of people who are stuck at Turkey’s border.
