Erdogan hosts Putin, Rouhani for Syria summit

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will host his Russian and Iranian counterparts yesterday for their latest summit on Syria, with attention focused on Damascus’s push on the last rebel-held bastion of Idlib.

Presidents Vladimir Putin and Hassan Rouhani will join Erdogan in the Turkish capital Ankara for their fifth summit on the conflict since 2017.

Iran and Russia have been staunch supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey has called for his ouster and backed opposition fighters.

But with Assad’s position looking increasingly secure, Turkey’s priority has shifted to preventing a mass influx of refugees from Idlib in Syria’s northwest.

Turkey is concerned by the steady advance of Syrian forces into the region, backed by Russian airpower, despite a series of ceasefires.

 

Erdogan hosts Putin, Rouhani for Syria summit

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will host his Russian and Iranian counterparts yesterday for their latest summit on Syria, with attention focused on Damascuss push on the last rebel-held bastion of Idlib. Presidents Vladimir Putin and Hassan Rouhani will join Erdogan in the Turkish capital Ankara for their fifth summit on the conflict since 2017. Iran and Russia have been staunch supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey has called for his ouster and backed opposition fighters. But with Assads position looking increasingly secure, Turkeys priority has shifted to preventing a mass influx of refugees from Idlib in Syrias northwest. Turkey is concerned by the steady advance of Syrian forces into the region, backed by Russian airpower, despite a series of ceasefires.