A Syrian opposition campaign considers Turkey as a partner in recent Idlib escalations
Idlib – North-Press Agency
The Syrian government forces along with the Russian air force have intensified their ground shelling and air raids targeting various areas in Syria’s northwestern region of Idlib since Friday morning, while some Syrian activists had launched a campaign accusing Turkey of being a partner in the killing of Syrians.
The recent Escalations followed the bombardments in the past 24 hours on two hospitals, one in the town of Kafranbel and the other in the town of Hass, causing further damage and devastation, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The Syrian fighter jets targeted this morning the areas of Al-Qarqour in Al-Ghab plain, Kafr Zita northern Hama, and Hass, Basqela, Sahyan, Rikaya, Karsaa, Khan Shaykhoun, Ariha and Kafranbel in the southern countryside of Idlib, and al-Bawabiya and Tal Hadya in the southern countryside of Aleppo.
5 people were killed and about 20 were injured in the last 24 hours as a result of the aerial bombardment on Khan Shaykhoun, Kansafra, Kafranbel, Hass, Rikaya and Sajna.
While the armed opposition groups targeted the area of Al-Mabaqer in the northwest of Hama, reports indicated the death of a member of the government forces, while the area of Salhab was targeted during the late hours of last night.
“The Turkish guarantor is Russia’s partner in killing us”
As the battles intensify in the de-escalation zone north-western Syria since late April, a group of activists in the opposition-held areas has launched a campaign called “The Turkish guarantor is Russia’s partner in killing us.”
Turkey is considered as a guarantor of the de-escalation zones agreement in the governorate of Idlib, and some parts of the governorates of Hama, Aleppo, and Latakia, after the Astana Agreement which was signed by the Turkish and Russian sides in the second half of September of 2018.
While the Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin revealed Turkey’s plan “to hold a quadrilateral summit of Turkey, Russia, Germany and France by the end of upcoming August or the beginning of September this year, precedent to the sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations”, pointing out that the conference will discuss “various security and regional issues where the Syria crisis will be on the top of the talks.”
“Turkey will host the tripartite summit between the leaders of Turkey, Russia, and Iran in August within the framework of Astana meetings,” Kalin said.
While on Thursday, the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called on the Russians to monitor the Syrian government forces over their latest attacks on Idlib.
He pointed out to Russia’s security concerns about its bases in the region because of the presence of radical groups, stressing on the contacts between Turkey, Russia, Iran, and the other sides “because the Syrian crisis or Idlib, is a serious issue.”