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.



Two Officials: Israel is Being Attacked Daily by One-Way Drones from Iraq

A member of the Israeli security forces works next to a damaged car at the site of a drone attack, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Karmiel, northern Israel October 27, 2024. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
A member of the Israeli security forces works next to a damaged car at the site of a drone attack, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Karmiel, northern Israel October 27, 2024. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
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Two Officials: Israel is Being Attacked Daily by One-Way Drones from Iraq

A member of the Israeli security forces works next to a damaged car at the site of a drone attack, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Karmiel, northern Israel October 27, 2024. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
A member of the Israeli security forces works next to a damaged car at the site of a drone attack, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Karmiel, northern Israel October 27, 2024. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Iranian-backed militias are launching one-way attack drones against Israel from inside Iraq, which US and partner forces have had to intercept, two officials told The Associated Press.
Both a US defense official and a regional security official said the one-way drones have been an issue since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, and aren’t a retaliation from Iran for Israel’s strikes last week.
However the drone attacks have increased in number in recent weeks. There’s been an average of about five launches a day from within Iraq targeting Israel by Iranian-aligned militia groups, and within the last week, eight UAVs were fired in one 24-hour period, the regional security officer said.
US and partnered forces have been intercepting the attack drones, both officials said. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details that have not been made public on the Iraq-launched drone attacks.
The ongoing launches have increased the chance that Israel will respond directly to those attacks, the regional security official said.