BEIRUT, Dec 24 — Russian-backed Syrian troops have encircled a Turkish observation post as they approach the city of Maarat al-Numan in an offensive into the last significant rebel pocket of Syria, sources on both sides said today. It is the first major bout of fighting since the leaders of...
Tuesday, 24 Dec 2019 11:23 PM MYT
It is the first major bout of fighting since the leaders of Turkey, Russia and Iran agreed in Ankara in September to “de-escalate” conflict in the northwestern province of Idlib after a months-long campaign that forced at least 500,000 civilians to flee. With diplomacy on a Syria peace settlement stalled, the de-escalation deal has been unravelling of late.
Turkey has 12 outposts in Idlib under a security arrangement struck with Russia and Iran, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s major allies, in 2017. There have been several shooting attacks on the outposts since then, prompting Turkish retaliation, but Russian pressure on Damascus halted firing by Assad’s forces.
Eight people, including five children, died when bombs dropped by Russian jets struck displaced families as they were seeking shelter in the village of Jubas, east of the town of Saraqeb, rescuers and area residents said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said yesterday he was “alarmed by the scale of the military operation and reported attacks on evacuation routes” used by civilians fleeing north towards the Turkish border.
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