Turkish, Russian defense ministers discuss Idlib

UPDATES WITH RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY STATEMENT

By Mehmet Tosun

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish and Russian defense ministers discussed latest situation in Syria’s northwestern Idlib over the phone, the Turkish Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

In a statement, the ministry said Hulusi Akar and his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoygu exchanged views on recent provocations “deemed to damage” the Sochi agreement.

After a Sept. 17 meeting in Sochi between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the two sides agreed to set up a demilitarized zone -- in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited -- in Syria’s Idlib province.

Under the terms of the deal, opposition groups in Idlib will remain in areas in which they are already present, while Russia and Turkey will carry out joint patrols in the area to prevent a resumption of fighting.

Meanwhile, Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement its air forces hit the targets in Idlib.

Igor Konashenkov, the ministry spokesman, said on Sunday the Russian planes struck militants, who had attacked Aleppo city on Nov. 24.

Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.