Russian expert: Idlib developments inseparable from safe zone talks
Moscow – North-Press Agency
Fahim al-Sourani
The Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his strong support for the Syrian government forces’ operations in Idlib during a joint press conference in Paris with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.
Putin confirmed that Moscow supports the Syrian army’s efforts to end these terrorist threats as he said: “The battles against extremist groups will continue, as we never said that terrorists would feel comfortable in Idlib”.
The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated that terrorists would be cruelly defeated.
The Russian minister also stated that the Russian and Turkish armies are in constant contact regarding the situation in the de-escalation zones in Idlib.
According to observers, the Russian stance can’t be separated from the file of the safe zone, which was the talk of the hour before the rapid and intensive military operations launched by the Syrian government forces to enter the city of Khan Shaykhun, which managed to advance over the lines of the Turkish-backed armed opposition groups.
Russia has not hesitated to target a Turkish military convoy that Damascus said it was “to help the defeated al-Nusra Front terrorists,” according to observers.
Russian observers believe that these developments come to thwart the “safe zone” plan, the researcher on the strategic affairs Dmitry Kim told North-Press: “The Syrian army, supported by the Russian aerial coverage, sent two coded messages through its ongoing military operations.”
He explained: “The first message is based on the outcome of Sochi and Astana’s recent round on the war against terrorism and the establishment of a demilitarized zone, while the second one, regarding the safe zone, which Damascus considers as an attack on its sovereignty, and an attempt to cut off part of its territories.”
Kim said the Russian leadership has put its weight regarding the Syrian military plan, especially after Ankara’s procrastination in implementing its commitments, including “separating moderate and terrorist groups.”
The Russian expert considered that Moscow is interested in speeding up the resolution of the Idlib file and pushing the Constitutional Committee to accelerate the political solution that was interrupted due to the situation in Idlib.
He added that “Moscow’s strategic calmness cannot be indefinite, especially after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) bombing Hmeimim base with drones about three weeks ago, which constituted an additional provocation to the Russian leadership, and started to see the necessity of turning to the policy of direct attack”.
This explains the statements of Russian officials, which have been remarkably active in the past few days supporting the military operations of the Syrian government forces, “which have now arrived at Khan Shaykhun” according to Kim.
The Russian position regarding the military developments in Idlib was preceded by a statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry warning of what it has described as attempts to divide Syria, in response to the intentions of establishing a safe zone under US-Turkish auspices.