Turkey, Russia may deploy soldiers to Syria’s Idlib for monitoring: Spokesperson

ANKARA

Turkey and Russia may assume monitoring role in a de-escalation zone in Syria’s Idlib, Turkish Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın has said. 

Turkey, Russia and Iran have been working on “logistics” in de-escalation zones in opposition-held areas, Kalın told reporters on late June 21. 

Parties are working on a mechanism in which “mainly Russia and we in Idlib region, mainly Russia-Iran around Damascus, the U.S. and Jordan will take place in southern Deraa region,” he said, elaborating on monitoring forces that will be deployed between the regime and opposition in four de-escalation zones. 

Russians proposed the Kyrgyz and Kazakhs could also send forces, he said. 

Soldiers of three guarantor countries have been working on the numbers monitoring forces require as well, he said.
 
These forces could minimize the possibility of clashes, Kalın noted, adding that work may be finalized until the next Astana meeting in early July. 

Russia, Turkey and Iran agreed in a memorandum signed on May 4 to establish four separate de-escalation zones in Syria for at least six months. The largest de-escalation zone includes Idlib province and the adjoining districts of Hama, Aleppo and Latakia provinces.