Turkey Enhances Positions in Northwest Syria after Talks with Russia

Soldiers of the Russian military police and the Turkish military during a joint patrol of the M4 highway in Idlib (Russian Defense Ministry)
Soldiers of the Russian military police and the Turkish military during a joint patrol of the M4 highway in Idlib (Russian Defense Ministry)
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Turkey Enhances Positions in Northwest Syria after Talks with Russia

Soldiers of the Russian military police and the Turkish military during a joint patrol of the M4 highway in Idlib (Russian Defense Ministry)
Soldiers of the Russian military police and the Turkish military during a joint patrol of the M4 highway in Idlib (Russian Defense Ministry)

Despite a recent agreement with Moscow on withdrawing its heavy weapons from the region, Ankara on Friday sent a new military column to its observation points in the south of Syria’s Idlib province, where Russian warplanes and Syrian forces have recently reduced their military activities.

The new Turkish military column, including armored vehicles and logistical supplies, crossed into Syrian territories via Kafr Lusin crossing on the border with Iskenderun region in northern Idlib.
The vehicles then headed to the Turkish positions in the de-escalation zone.

Over 15,000 Turkish soldiers have deployed in the area since the first Astana agreement between Ankara and Moscow was signed in 2017.

One Tuesday, Turkish and Russian officials met in Ankara for a new round of talks on developments in Syria to discuss a proposal for decreasing the Turkish observation points in Idlib.

However, “the meetings between the Russian and Turkish delegations have not resulted in any specific results or reached mutual understanding on Idlib,” a Turkish source familiar with the situation told Sputnik.

Ankara asked that the cities of Tall Rifat and Manbij be transferred under its control, but this initiative was rejected by Moscow.

During the meeting, Turkey also refused to leave checkpoints on the territories controlled by the Syrian army as well as to reduce the number of its troops in the region and withdraw heavy weapons.

Meanwhile, the administration of the Bab al-Hawa crossing described on Friday the statements of United Nations Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock as “irresponsible.”

During a session of the UN Security Council regarding the situation in Syria, Lowcock discussed the entry of UN aid convoys into Syria through the crossing.

“There are great challenges on the Syrian side, including the delayed entry of UN convoys to Syria and their complicated return to Syria,” he said.



Jordan Rejects Attempts of 'Some Parties' to Violate its Airspace

Projectile flies in the sky over Jordan after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel, as seen from Amman, Jordan October 1, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak
Projectile flies in the sky over Jordan after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel, as seen from Amman, Jordan October 1, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak
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Jordan Rejects Attempts of 'Some Parties' to Violate its Airspace

Projectile flies in the sky over Jordan after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel, as seen from Amman, Jordan October 1, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak
Projectile flies in the sky over Jordan after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel, as seen from Amman, Jordan October 1, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak

Jordan rejected on Saturday all attempts to involve the country in the regional conflict by violating its airspace, Petra, the news agency of Jordan said on Saturday.
Jordan’s government official spokesperson, Dr. Mohammed al-Momani stressed in a statement that Jordan rejects attempts by “some parties in the region” to violate its airspace, especially by launching drones.
He said some of these drones have entered the Kingdom's airspace and parts and structures of which fell inside Jordanian territory recently.
He described these breaches as a significant "threat", assuring that Jordan’s armed forces will not hesitate to address such breaches according to its military rules of engagement.
The Kingdom is implementing all "necessary" measures to confront these violations effectively, Momani said.
Over the past two months, an exchange of projectiles between Iran and Iraqi factions on one side, and Israel on the other, flew in the sky over Jordan. Jordan is located at the midpoint between the two.