Tehran summit: Iran, Turkey condemn US ‘support’ to Syrian rebels, Putin opposes ceasefire proposal in Idlib

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stated that the battle in Syria will prevail until militants are pushed out of the entire country, especially in Idlib, but also underlined that any military operation should avoid civilians casualties.

By: Express Web Desk | New Delhi | Published: September 7, 2018 6:39:34 pm

President Vladimir Putin of Russia, Hassan Rouhani of Iran and Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey meet in Tehran. (Photo: Reuters)

In a summit that could possibly play a pivotal role in determining the future course of the violent Syrian conflict that has been raging on for seven years, Russian President Vladimir Putin convened a meeting with his Turkish and Iranian counterparts- Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hassan Rouhani in Tehran on Friday. Both Erdogan and Rouhani condemned the alleged US support to rebel groups battling President Bashar al Assad’s regime in a conflict that has claimed the lives of at least 3,50,000 people and displaced millions of Syrians, triggering a much larger migrant crisis impacting European nations across the Mediterranean.

“The illegal presence and interference of America in Syria which has led to the continuation of insecurity in that country, must end quickly,” Rouhani was quoted as saying by AP. Rouhani’s criticism of the United States was echoed by Turkish President Erdogan who stated that Turkey is ‘deeply annoyed by US supporting a terrorist organisation in Syria’.

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Turkey hopes to find solution on Syria's Idlib with Russia

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday (August 14) that he hoped to find a solution over Syria's Idlib region during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

The leaders are set to plan the looming military assault on Idlib in northwestern Syria, the last major bastion of active rebels to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad’s government.

Rouhani also stated that the battle in Syria will prevail until militants are pushed out of the entire country, especially in Idlib, but also underlined that any military operation should avoid civilians casualties.

“The fires of war and bloodshed in Syria are reaching their end,” Rouhani said, while adding that terrorism must “be uprooted in Syria, particularly in Idlib,” Rouhani was quoted as saying.

For Russia and Iran- who have been both allies of the Syrian government ever since the war broke out in Syria during the Arab Spring – reclaiming Idlib is vital to complete what they perceive as a military victory in Syrian conflict after Syrian troops recaptured nearly all other prominent areas, largely quelling the rebellion against Assad.

(With Inputs from Agencies)