Talks between Russia and Turkey have ended, with the Turkish government informing Russia that they have completed preparations and intend to just launch a full-scale military attack on the Syrian military in the Idlib Province.
Turkey has been objecting to Syria’s military gains in the formerly rebel-held north, where both Turkish-backed rebels and al-Qaeda have suffered major defeats recently. Counterattacks by the rebels have failed, and Turkey seems determined to carry out the attacks themselves.
Turkey continues to send more troops into Northern Syria in anticipation of this fight. It is very risky, both in potentially bringing Turkey into conflict with Russia, and in that Turkey’s pretense of just backing rebels falls apart if they start occupying parts of Syria directly.
Turkey has demanded that the Syrian military abandon Idlib Province and parts of Aleppo. Neither seems likely to happen at this point, and Turkey seems determined to fall back on force of arms to keep the Syrian Civil War going.
One should hear carefully Russian statement.
Turkey will move in to occupy Idlib, as no other means of peeling off the garden variety of militants from HTS and its US/UK Helmets, worked. If Turkish incentives did not work, force will.
And perfect excuse is, Syrian offensive is bound to produce millions of refugees, so we have to stop it. The drama is for audience at home fearful of more refugees, to Davutoglu, whose sponsors are regime change minded, and to militants in Idlib — we are coming to protect you, do not shhot at us.
But HTS knows the score — it is being replaced as a boss in Idlib, and may set up attacks on Turkish forces. It would be futile — but irrational times are upon them. Hope it all ends with HTS and Helmets leaders packing their bags and discreetly getting out, leaving rank and file to Turkey.
It is the last stand of Western backed forces in Syria, apart if the oil wells at the northeastern tip of Syria in Iraqi border.
High time for Syria to call on it’s new found friends, the Kurds, to step up to the plate and take a swing at their old enemies, the Turks.
The end of Erdogan is near…!
Turkey is playing this card until the very end for U.S to show cooperation. But U.S. has already signed an agreement to move his base to Greece.
Excellent analysis by Former UN weapons inspector, Scott Ritter
Turkey faces strategic defeat in Idlib after failing to live up to its commitments on Syria.
https://www.rt.com/op-ed/481197-turkey-idlib-syria-sochi-agreement/