Russia and Turkey are working together in Idlib, Syria, against illegal armed groups that are trying to disrupt the peace process, Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan said.
As previously reported in the Russian center for reconciliation of warring parties in Syria, on July 14, during the 20th joint Russian-Turkish patrol of the M-4 highway in Idlib, an improvised explosive device was detonated on the route of the convoy. Three Russian servicemen were slightly injured, and there were also reports of injuries among the crew of a Turkish armored car. According to the Turkish Defense Ministry, there were no victims in the incident.
"The number of our joint (with the Russian Federation) patrols in Idlib has already reached 20. The conflict settlement process is underway, but there are illegal forces that are delaying this process and creating problems for it. Of course, we, together with our Russian partners, are trying to prevent this, " Erdogan told reporters.
The situation in Idlib in Syria escalated at the end of February, when the terrorists of the Hayat Tahrir al-sham group (a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia) they launched a large-scale offensive against the positions of the Syrian government troops. The Syrian army returned fire. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Turkish military, which should not have been there, was also shelled.
After the meeting of Russian and Turkish presidents Vladimir Putin and Tayyip Erdogan in Moscow on March 5, the situation was managed to be diverted from the dangerous line - the parties adopted a joint document in which they confirmed their commitment to the Astana format and announced a ceasefire. In addition, Moscow and Ankara agreed to jointly patrol the important M-4 highway.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from RIA Novosti