No Russia-US-Ankara coordination regarding Coalition air strike on Idlib

North-Press Agency

In a
first official statement, the Russian Defense Ministry has mentioned the air strikes
which was launched by the U.S. led-Global Coalition against al-Qaeda groups’
hideouts in the region of Idlib, northwestern Syria, on Saturday, which led to
the death of dozens of jihadists.

The
Russian Defense Ministry said that the Pentagon didn’t inform Russia nor Turkey
prior to launching the air strike, warning that this type of an attack may
threaten the ceasefire in northwestern Syria, which was earlier announced by
the Russian Reconciliation Center.

Meanwhile,
the Syrian government forces renewed their violations of the ceasefire, which
has been in effect since the dawn of Saturday, by targeting the areas in the governorates
of Latakia and Idlib, in conjunction with the entry of a new Turkish military convoy
to the de-escalation zones.  

The Media and Political Adviser to the
Syrian Presidency, Buthayna Shaaban confirmed to al-Mayadeen TV that any
ceasefire decision is in the service of the Syrian government control over all
Syrian territories, and that the ceasefire in Idlib is “temporary”,
noting that “what the terrorists have done in Idlib countryside, was a
layout of states”.

Syrian government bombardment have targeted
areas of Kafranbel, al-Tah and al-Fatah in the southern countryside of Idlib,
killing at least 3 people while injuring many others.

On the other hand, a new military convoy of
the Turkish forces crossed on Sunday morning, Kafr Lusin border-crossing north
of Idlib where it included military reinforcements, which headed to the southern
countryside of Aleppo.

On
the other hand, Lt. Col. Earl Brown, the head of Media Operations at the US
Central Command told North-Press that the operations in northwestern Syria,
where al-Qaeda is taking a safe haven, will continue in cooperation with the
U.S. allies and partners.

“The operations
against al-Qaeda militants and leaders who are responsible for threatening the
lives of the U.S. citizens and the civilian partners will go on until the
weakening of the group’s ability to launch attacks and destabilizing the region,
they will also be prevented from taking Syria as a safe haven”, Brown confirmed.
 

It
is noteworthy that the Global Coalition’s air strike has targeted a military
headquarter in the south of the city of Idlib which belonged to al-Qaeda’s
affiliate “Ansar al-Tawhid”, where the United States already classified them
as an international terrorist organization.

The air
strike caused the collapse of the entire building, killing about 45, most of
them were trained members, while injuring more than 23.