Erdogan Accused Russia of Violating Syria Agreements

Turkey's patience is running out, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned. The day before, the Syrian forces with the support of Russian aviation seized a strategically important town in the Syrian province of Idlib. President Erdogan accused Russia of violating Syria agreements with Ankara. Moscow does not comply with the agreements reached in Astana and Sochi, he said on board the plane, returning to Turkey after his trip to African countries on Wednesday, January 29. According to Erdogan, he is in contact with the Russians to persuade them to stop bombing targets in Idlib - the last province of Syria, which is still under the control of jihadists and the Syrian opposition. Turkey’s patience is running out, Erdogan emphasized, adding that very soon it will be over and then his country "will do whatever is needed." Success of the Syrian army in Idlib In 2018, Russia and Turkey agreed to create de-escalation zones in Idlib, which borders Turkey. Ankara, supporting Syrian rebels, established 12 observation posts in Idlib. The Syrian army, however, is conducting a successful military operation in this province, winning over new territories from the rebels. The day before, the army of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with the support of Russian aviation, captured the strategically important city of Maarat Al-Numan on the highway connecting Damascus with the city of Aleppo. According to experts, control of this city is of paramount importance to Assad. Maarat Al-Numan has been under the Syrian opposition control since 2012. The capture of this city was Assad army’s another military triumph, which in recent years has won vast territories from rebels and jihadists, regaining control over almost the entire territory of Syria, the AP agency notes.