Resolving the Idlib situation depends on Russia-US dialogue
(Baonghean.vn) - The resolution of the situation in Syria's Idlib province will depend on dialogue between Moscow and Washington, said senior researcher Boris Dolgov of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences in an interview with TASS news agency on July 28.
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| Illustration: Internet |
According to this expert, political negotiations on the Idlib de-escalation zone should take place before a possible military campaign by Syrian government forces.
Earlier, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told reporters that the government's army would focus on Idlib province and other areas where terrorists are still active.
“It is still too early to talk about resolving the military and political aspects because it depends on Türkiye's position, as well as on global politics, how the dialogue between Russia and the US takes place,” the expert affirmed.
Intertwined benefits
According to Dolgov, given the intertwined interests of a number of global and regional actors, political dialogue needs to take place before any military campaign by the Syrian army.
“Many questions arise here as some groups based in Idlib are supported by Ankara and the provinces bordering Turkey,” the expert added. “Some groups receive support from the Gulf kingdoms, while others maintain links with the US-led coalition. This is why it will be difficult for the Syrian Army to achieve its goal of eliminating the enclaves of these armed opposition units,” Dolgov pointed out.
In his view, time will tell whether Damascus is capable of conducting a military operation in the area, but “this issue should be addressed along with political aspects.”
“Iran’s role is also important because this hot spot of tension is not in Tehran’s interests,” Dolgov asserted, adding that “these armed units are also fighting against each other.”
Terrorism in Idlib
Idlib province was captured by militants of the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group in 2015. Under reconciliation agreements, members of the group who reluctantly surrendered to Syrian government forces in Aleppo and Homs provinces, as well as Eastern Ghouta, were allowed to move to Idlib. Fighters from the southern provinces of Daraa and Quneitra are also moving to the area.
In 2017, Idlib province in the northern de-escalation zone was under the control of Türkiye, one of the guarantors of the ceasefire along with Russia and Iran.
A new international conference on Syria, including delegates from the Astana process, is scheduled to take place in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi on July 30-31.
