Russia, Turkey to Discuss ‘New Sochi’ Agreement in Ankara

An aerial view taken on February 6, 2020 shows smoke billowing from tires burnt by Syrians in an attempt to hinder airstrikes amid clashes between opposition fighters and regime forces in Idlib's Binnish town. (AFP Photo)
An aerial view taken on February 6, 2020 shows smoke billowing from tires burnt by Syrians in an attempt to hinder airstrikes amid clashes between opposition fighters and regime forces in Idlib's Binnish town. (AFP Photo)
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Russia, Turkey to Discuss ‘New Sochi’ Agreement in Ankara

An aerial view taken on February 6, 2020 shows smoke billowing from tires burnt by Syrians in an attempt to hinder airstrikes amid clashes between opposition fighters and regime forces in Idlib's Binnish town. (AFP Photo)
An aerial view taken on February 6, 2020 shows smoke billowing from tires burnt by Syrians in an attempt to hinder airstrikes amid clashes between opposition fighters and regime forces in Idlib's Binnish town. (AFP Photo)

A Russian delegation is expected to propose to Turkey on Saturday a new version of the 2018 Sochi Agreement, which stipulates a ceasefire between the regime and opposition factions in the de-escalation zone of Syria’s Idlib province.

The Russian amendments include the drawing of new lines in the area and the separation of moderate factions from the extremists in northwestern Syria.

On Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said during a press conference in Slovakia’s capital Bratislava that “according to recent information, a delegation led by Russian Foreign Ministry officials will visit Turkey tomorrow for talks.”

The FM reiterated that his country would do whatever is needed to stop a humanitarian catastrophe in Syria’s northwest.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also said Friday, “We have an important deal with our partners, the Turks, to clearly set the system in the de-escalation zone in Idlib.”

He explained that Ankara had previously pledged to separate the armed opposition from the “terrorists” of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

“Unfortunately, terrorists still control the situation in the Idlib area. At the end, we should implement this pledge,” the Russian FM said.

On Thursday, Turkey’s presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said that changing borders of Idlib’s de-escalation zone, as determined by the Astana and Sochi agreements, is out of question.

He reiterated that Turkey's 12 observations points in northwestern Syria will remain in their places.

In September 2018, Turkey and Russia agreed to establish the zone in Idlib where acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.

However, this deal was often violated by the Syrian regime and its allies.

Separately, the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday strongly criticized Israel for nearly shooting down a passenger jetliner in Syria during a missile strike on the suburbs of Damascus a day earlier.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov said the strike was carried around 2 am local time Thursday.

He said four Israeli F-16 fighter jets hit the suburbs of Damascus with eight missiles without taking into account that a passenger plane with 172 civilians on board was preparing to land in the city’s airport around the same time.



Jumblatt Hands Over Progressive Socialist Party Arms to Lebanese Army

Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt (Reuters)
Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt (Reuters)
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Jumblatt Hands Over Progressive Socialist Party Arms to Lebanese Army

Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt (Reuters)
Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt (Reuters)

Lebanon’s veteran Druze leader Walid Jumblatt on Thursday called on the Iran-backed Hezbollah group to hand its weapons over to the state, saying arms must be exclusively under government control.

Speaking at a news conference in Beirut, the former head of the Progressive Socialist Party said, “Weapons should only be in the hands of the Lebanese state,” adding that the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms, a long-disputed area on the western slopes of Mount Hermon, are Syrian territory.

Jumblatt’s appeal comes amid growing international calls for Hezbollah to disarm and for the Lebanese government to implement its longstanding pledge—reiterated in its ministerial statement and by President Joseph Aoun during his swearing-in—to ensure that only state institutions bear arms.

His remarks also come as Washington renews its push to resolve files with Syria, including border demarcation, as part of wider regional realignments.

“There’s a new chapter unfolding in the Middle East,” Jumblatt said. “If any Lebanese or non-Lebanese party possesses weapons, I hope they will hand them over to the state in a proper manner.”

He described “the most valuable weapon for future generations” as being one of “memory”—urging the country to pass down stories of resistance against Israel and its collaborators rather than stockpiles of arms.

Jumblatt said he had recently informed the president of the presence of weapons in his hometown of Mukhtara and asked the relevant security agencies to take over the matter. The arms, collected gradually since the May 2008 clashes between Hezbollah and his party, were fully handed over more than three weeks ago.

The arsenal, he said, consisted of light and medium-grade weapons that had been centrally gathered over the years.

He noted that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri—himself a close ally of Hezbollah—remained a “friend and ally,” but added: “The issue of weapons has no bearing on Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon.”

Hezbollah has long justified its arsenal as essential to liberating the Shebaa Farms and Kfar Shouba Hills, areas Israel did not vacate during its 2000 withdrawal from south Lebanon. In recent years, the dispute has expanded to include 13 border points and the northern section of the village of Ghajar, which Israel annexed in 2022.

“Shebaa Farms are covered under UN Resolution 242. It is Syrian land occupied by Israel,” Jumblatt said.

He urged support for the Lebanese army and internal security forces, stressing that Israel still occupies territory and that several Lebanese villages remain destroyed.

He also called for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.

“In this round, Israel and the West have won with US backing,” he said. “But nothing lasts forever.”