ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – In a rare critical remark about his ally, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Russia on Wednesday of failing to honor its Syria ceasefire agreements in northern Syria. It came a day after the Moscow-backed Syrian regime retook a key rebel-held town with Russian air cover.
“We had some meetings with Russia in Sochi and Astana that produced some agreements [on Idlib]. We will faithfully continue to implement them should Russia stick to the agreements as well,” Erdogan told journalists on his way home from a three-day visit to Africa, reported Hurriyet.
He was referring to the Sochi and Astana agreements of 2017 and 2018 aimed at de-escalating the conflict in Idlib, northwest Syria – the country’s last opposition holdout. However, both deals have failed to prevent clashes between the rebels and government forces.
“Unfortunately, Russia is not abiding by the deals of Astana and Sochi,” added Erdogan, who has rarely criticized Russia since the two counties’ 2016 rapprochement.
His comments came a day after the Russian-backed Syrian Arab Army (SAA) recaptured the strategic town of Maaret al-Numan in the northwestern province of Idlib.
Home to some three million Syrians, Idlib is the last bastion of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham jihadists who include former al-Qaeda affiliates.
The recent developments in Idlib have caused the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Syrians towards the Turkish border, causing anxiety in Ankara. Turkey already hosts more than three million Syrian refugees.
The Turkish military also has 12 observation posts in Idlib and plans new ones despite attacks by regime-backed forces. Ankara said this week it would retaliate against any further attacks.
Erdogan also warned on Wednesday against the bombardment of Idlib by Syrian and Russian forces, saying: “Our patience is running thin. We will do whatever necessary if these bombardments do not stop.”
“If we are loyal partners, then Russia should take up a position. It will either pursue a different track with Syria or with Turkey. There is no other way,” he said, suggesting further talks should be held between Ankara, Moscow, and Tehran.
