Terrorists have become active practically throughout Syria, not only in the north of the country, said Alexander Lavrentiev, the Russian President's Special Representative for the Syrian Settlement.
On December 21, the Astana format negotiations about the settlement in Syria started in Nur-Sultan. Delegations from the guarantor countries - Iran, Russia and Turkey, as well as the Syrian government, the Syrian armed opposition and the UN - are participating in the consultations, which will last two days.
"One can't help but be concerned that terrorist groups have recently intensified - not only in northern Syria, but practically all over the country," Lavrentiev told reporters.
Lavrentyev also noted that the activation also concerns the terrorist group IS*.
He also said that he expects to discuss in detail the options for stepping up the fight against the terrorist groups and combining the efforts of all parties concerned.
Idlib, located in northern Syria, is considered to be the only region of Syria where a large part remains in the hands of gangs. In 2017, a northern de-escalation zone was created there, where extremists who refused to lay down their arms in the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta and the southern regions of the country were relocated. There are observation posts of the Turkish army in the province, and according to agreements between the presidents of Russia and Turkey reached in Moscow on March 5, 2020, the military of the two countries conduct joint patrols in Idlib.
* The organization is recognized as a terrorist organization and is banned in Russia.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Evgeny Biyatov / POOL / TASS
Based on materials from RIA Novosti