A UN board of inquiry investigating attacks on civilian establishments in Syria, including hospitals, has refrained from directly holding Russia responsible, according to a summary of its report published Monday.

The coordinates of the sites had been communicated to the belligerents by the United Nations to protect them from air strikes.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-victory-day-rehearsals-continue-despite-coronavirus-crisis-290914" hreflang="en">Russia: Victory Day rehearsals continue despite coronavirus crisis</a>

Without mentioning Russia, the investigation concluded that in four out of the seven cases studied by the board -- a school, a health center, a surgical hospital and a protection center -- "the government of Syria and/or its allies had carried out the airstrike."

In 2019, The New York Times published an exhaustive investigation, notably including recordings of Russian pilots, that directly incriminated Russia in attacks on hospitals in Syria.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-impact-is-covid-19-having-on-war-torn-areas-like-yemen-syria-libya-290652">What impact is COVID-19 having on war-torn areas like Yemen, Syria, Libya</a>

''The refusal to explicitly name Russia as a responsible party working alongside the Syrian government... is deeply disappointing," Human Rights Watch said after the summary was published.

The UN commission chose seven cases, but its investigators were unable to visit the sites because the Syrian government did not grant visas.

The cases included the Martyr Akram Ali Ibrahim Al-Ahmad school in Madiq Castle on April 2018, 2019, and the Rakaya Sijneh health center on May 3.

There were no victims in either case. The report said it was highly likely the raids were conducted by Syria or its allies.

The commission also looked at the Kafr Nabutha health center (May 7), which had no victims and was also likely conducted by Syria and its allies.

A UN board of inquiry investigating attacks on civilian establishments in Syria, including hospitals, has refrained from directly holding Russia responsible, according to a summary of its report published Monday.

A UN board of inquiry investigating attacks on civilian establishments in Syria, including hospitals, has refrained from directly holding Russia responsible, according to a summary of its report published Monday. The coordinates of the sites had been communicated to the belligerents by the United Nations to protect them from air strikes. Also read: Russia: Victory Day rehearsals continue despite coronavirus crisis Without mentioning Russia, the investigation concluded that in four out of the seven cases studied by the board -- a school, a health center, a surgical hospital and a protection center -- "the government of Syria and/or its allies had carried out the airstrike." In 2019, The New York Times published an exhaustive investigation, notably including recordings of Russian pilots, that directly incriminated Russia in attacks on hospitals in Syria. Also read: What impact is COVID-19 having on war-torn areas like Yemen, Syria, Libya ''The refusal to explicitly name Russia as a responsible party working alongside the Syrian government... is deeply disappointing," Human Rights Watch said after the summary was published. The UN commission chose seven cases, but its investigators were unable to visit the sites because the Syrian government did not grant visas. The cases included the Martyr Akram Ali Ibrahim Al-Ahmad school in Madiq Castle on April 2018, 2019, and the Rakaya Sijneh health center on May 3. There were no victims in either case. The report said it was highly likely the raids were conducted by Syria or its allies. The commission also looked at the Kafr Nabutha health center (May 7), which had no victims and was also likely conducted by Syria and its allies.

UN refrains from directly blaming Russia for Syria hospital attacks

What impact is COVID-19 having on war-torn areas like Yemen, Syria, Libya

Through war or through a coronavirus curfew, Syrian gym coaches Reem al-Shami and Fadi Barakat say they will never stop exercising.

Can't stop, won't stop: Syrian gym coaches stay fit

Syria's health ministry said on Sunday that a woman who died after being rushed to hospital for emergency treatment was found to have been infected by coronavirus in the first officially reported death from the disease.

Syria's health ministry said on Sunday that a woman who died after being rushed to hospital for emergency treatment was found to have been infected by coronavirus in the first officially reported death from the disease. Syria also said its confirmed cases rose to nine from an earlier five cases, but medics and witnesses say there are many more. Officials deny a cover-up but have imposed a lockdown and draconian measures including a nationwide night curfew to stem the pandemic. Medics say the country is at high risk of a major outbreak because of a fragile health system devastated by a nine-year war and lack of sufficient equipment to detect the virus On Sunday, the army also announced an end to a call-up for army reserves. The army has already ended conscription in what military defectors said was an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus among the rank and file. Opposition figures and independent politicians point to Damascus' strong ties with Iran, the worst affected country in the region and which has land and air links with Syria, as a source of possible contagion. They say the virus is also coming from members of Iranian-backed militias who are fighting alongside the Syrian army. Senior Syrian army officers have in recent days taken leave of absence and been ordered not to mingle with the Iranian-backed militias, military defectors say. Thousands of Shi'ite pilgrims also continue to arrive in Syria to visit the Sayeda Zainab shrine in Damascus, a neighbourhood that also houses the main headquarters of the Iranian-backed militias. United Nations officials say large movements of pilgrims and visitors in densely populated areas have increased the risks of infection.

Syria reports first death from coronavirus

Syria's brutal conflict entered its 10th year Sunday with President Bashar al-Assad's regime consolidating its hold over a war-wracked country where foreign powers are flexing their muscle.

When Syrian anti-government demonstrators first took to the streets on March 15, 2011, they could scarcely have imagined their protests would turn into a complex war entangling rebels, jihadists and outside forces.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/east-syria-strike-kills-26-iraqi-fighters-monitor-285947">East Syria strike kills 26 Iraqi fighters: Monitor</a>

At least 384,000 people have since died, including more than 116,000 civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor says.

The war has left cities and villages in ruins, shattered the economy and displaced more than 11 million people internally and abroad, with many seeking refuge in neighbouring countries and Europe.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/fragmented-politics-of-syrian-refugee-crisis-jeopardises-the-future-of-millions-285579">Fragmented politics of Syrian refugee crisis jeopardises the future of millions</a>

"We've lost everything," said one of the displaced, Hala Ibrahim, a rights activist from Aleppo who now lives in Idlib province, the last rebel stronghold.

"I left my university, my house which was bombed," said the woman in her 30s.

"Nine years of revolution illustrate the extent of the suffering we have known, between exile, bombings and deaths."

Assad, with the military support of Russia, Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, has clawed back control of over 70 per cent of the war-torn country.

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Neighbouring Turkey, which supports local armed groups, has deployed its troops across the border in Idlib province, now the last rebel bastion and refugee of millions of displaced people.

Syria's latest fragile ceasefire came into effect there earlier this month, and Turkish and Russian forces on Sunday kicked off joint patrols in Idlib, Russian and Turkish media said.

The first patrol was however very brief and largely symbolic, as the route was "shortened because of provocations", Russia's defence ministry said.

An AFP correspondent, covering a protest against the patrol some five kilometres (three miles) away, said it never arrived on that section of the M4 highway.

Around 200 protesters had gathered on the road near the town of Nayrab, some setting tyres alight or piling tree branches across the thoroughfare.

The March 5 ceasefire has for now stemmed a deadly Russia-backed military campaign on Idlib.

The assault has killed nearly 500 civilians since December, the Observatory says, and forced nearly a million to flee their homes and shelters, according to the United Nations.

Among those displaced, Siham Abs and seven of her children have been living for the past two months in a camp near Bardaqli, not far from the Turkish border.

Among the tents lined up along muddy paths, Abs said she and her family would like to wash, but don't know where.

"I am 50 years old and I've never known such difficult times," she said.

Many of those unable to find space in camps have been sleeping in fields or have sought shelter in schools, mosques and unfinished buildings.

The UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday said the enduring war was "proof of a collective failure of diplomacy".

"The suffering of the Syrian people during this tragic and terrible decade still defies comprehension and belief."

The Syrian conflict was born of unprecedented anti-government demonstrations in the southern city of Daraa.

The protests spread across Syria, but a violent crackdown soon saw rebels take up arms and wrest key areas from government control.

Jihadist groups also emerged, notably the Islamic State group which swept across large parts of the country and neighbouring Iraq in 2014.

Other foreign powers still operating in Syria include the United States whose troops, despite an announced withdrawal last year, are still stationed in the northeast, in a semi-autonomous Kurdish zone.

And Israel regularly carries out airstrikes on Syrian, Hezbollah and Iranian military positions.

The war has ravaged Syria's economy and infrastructure. The United Nations estimated in 2018 that the conflict had caused nearly $400 billion in war-related destruction.

Over half of all health facilities in Syria are non-functional, and two in five schools cannot be used, the UN children's agency says.

"Our message is clear: Stop hitting schools and hospitals," UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said. "Stop killing and maiming children."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote this week on Twitter that "a decade of fighting has brought nothing but ruin and misery.

"There is no military solution. Now it is the time to give diplomacy a chance to work."

Syria's brutal conflict entered its 10th year Sunday with President Bashar al-Assad's regime consolidating its hold over a war-wracked country where foreign powers are flexing their muscle.

Syria's brutal conflict entered its 10th year Sunday with President Bashar al-Assad's regime consolidating its hold over a war-wracked country where foreign powers are flexing their muscle. When Syrian anti-government demonstrators first took to the streets on March 15, 2011, they could scarcely have imagined their protests would turn into a complex war entangling rebels, jihadists and outside forces. Also read: East Syria strike kills 26 Iraqi fighters: Monitor At least 384,000 people have since died, including more than 116,000 civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor says. The war has left cities and villages in ruins, shattered the economy and displaced more than 11 million people internally and abroad, with many seeking refuge in neighbouring countries and Europe. Also read: Fragmented politics of Syrian refugee crisis jeopardises the future of millions "We've lost everything," said one of the displaced, Hala Ibrahim, a rights activist from Aleppo who now lives in Idlib province, the last rebel stronghold. "I left my university, my house which was bombed," said the woman in her 30s. "Nine years of revolution illustrate the extent of the suffering we have known, between exile, bombings and deaths." Assad, with the military support of Russia, Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, has clawed back control of over 70 per cent of the war-torn country. × Neighbouring Turkey, which supports local armed groups, has deployed its troops across the border in Idlib province, now the last rebel bastion and refugee of millions of displaced people. Syria's latest fragile ceasefire came into effect there earlier this month, and Turkish and Russian forces on Sunday kicked off joint patrols in Idlib, Russian and Turkish media said. The first patrol was however very brief and largely symbolic, as the route was "shortened because of provocations", Russia's defence ministry said. An AFP correspondent, covering a protest against the patrol some five kilometres (three miles) away, said it never arrived on that section of the M4 highway. Around 200 protesters had gathered on the road near the town of Nayrab, some setting tyres alight or piling tree branches across the thoroughfare. The March 5 ceasefire has for now stemmed a deadly Russia-backed military campaign on Idlib. The assault has killed nearly 500 civilians since December, the Observatory says, and forced nearly a million to flee their homes and shelters, according to the United Nations. Among those displaced, Siham Abs and seven of her children have been living for the past two months in a camp near Bardaqli, not far from the Turkish border. Among the tents lined up along muddy paths, Abs said she and her family would like to wash, but don't know where. "I am 50 years old and I've never known such difficult times," she said. Many of those unable to find space in camps have been sleeping in fields or have sought shelter in schools, mosques and unfinished buildings. The UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday said the enduring war was "proof of a collective failure of diplomacy". "The suffering of the Syrian people during this tragic and terrible decade still defies comprehension and belief." The Syrian conflict was born of unprecedented anti-government demonstrations in the southern city of Daraa. The protests spread across Syria, but a violent crackdown soon saw rebels take up arms and wrest key areas from government control. Jihadist groups also emerged, notably the Islamic State group which swept across large parts of the country and neighbouring Iraq in 2014. Other foreign powers still operating in Syria include the United States whose troops, despite an announced withdrawal last year, are still stationed in the northeast, in a semi-autonomous Kurdish zone. And Israel regularly carries out airstrikes on Syrian, Hezbollah and Iranian military positions. The war has ravaged Syria's economy and infrastructure. The United Nations estimated in 2018 that the conflict had caused nearly $400 billion in war-related destruction. Over half of all health facilities in Syria are non-functional, and two in five schools cannot be used, the UN children's agency says. "Our message is clear: Stop hitting schools and hospitals," UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said. "Stop killing and maiming children." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote this week on Twitter that "a decade of fighting has brought nothing but ruin and misery. "There is no military solution. Now it is the time to give diplomacy a chance to work."

Syria's brutal war enters 10th year

At least 384,000 people have died in Syria, including more than 116,000 civilians, since the war began in March 2011, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday.

Sparked by deadly repression of peaceful pro-democracy protests, the conflict has drawn in outside powers in a complex war involving rebel factions, jihadist groups and foreign interests.

As the war enters its 10th year, the government of President Bashar al-Assad now controls more than 70 per cent of Syrian territory, thanks to the military support of its allies Russia, Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/east-syria-strike-kills-26-iraqi-fighters-monitor-285947"> East Syria strike kills 26 Iraqi fighters: Monitor</a>

The conflict is the "worst man-made disaster since World War II," the United Nations human rights chief declared in 2017.

The war has destroyed the economy and caused more than 11 million Syrians to flee their homes.

According to the Observatory, which relies on a network of sources in Syria, the latest death toll includes about 22,000 children and 13,000 women.

Also see: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/syria-war-enters-10th-year-with-no-hope-in-sight-285777">Syria war enters 10th year with no hope in sight</a>

At least 129,476 Syrian soldiers, allied forces and militiamen have died, according to the Britain-based war monitor, including 1,697 members of Hezbollah.

Nearly 57,000 rebels have died, as well as 13,624 members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which spearheaded the US-backed campaign against the Islamic State group, the Observatory said.

The Observatory tallied 67,296 deaths among jihadists loyal to IS or to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an alliance led by a former Al-Qaeda affiliate that dominates the last rebel enclave in the Idlib region in the northwest.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/fragmented-politics-of-syrian-refugee-crisis-jeopardises-the-future-of-millions-285579"> Fragmented politics of Syrian refugee crisis jeopardises the future of millions</a>

The death toll included 421 unidentified victims.

After recent government advances, Idlib province is the last battleground between government forces, and the jihadists and their rebel allies.

Damascus launched an offensive to take the region in December, causing close to one million people to flee, according to the United Nations, before Ankara and Moscow negotiated a ceasefire earlier this month.

Also see: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/senior-member-of-irans-revolutionary-guards-killed-in-syria-report-284924">Senior member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards killed in Syria: Report</a>

NGOs continue to denounce human rights abuses by the Syrian government, including lethal chemical attacks, torture and arbitrary arrest.

Tens of thousands of people have been subject to forced disappearances by the government or a myriad of armed groups, NGOs report.

The war has destroyed infrastructure and crucial sectors of the economy including the oil industry.

At least 384,000 people have died in Syria, including more than 116,000 civilians, since the war began in March 2011, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday.

At least 384,000 people have died in Syria, including more than 116,000 civilians, since the war began in March 2011, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday. Sparked by deadly repression of peaceful pro-democracy protests, the conflict has drawn in outside powers in a complex war involving rebel factions, jihadist groups and foreign interests. As the war enters its 10th year, the government of President Bashar al-Assad now controls more than 70 per cent of Syrian territory, thanks to the military support of its allies Russia, Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Also read: East Syria strike kills 26 Iraqi fighters: Monitor The conflict is the "worst man-made disaster since World War II," the United Nations human rights chief declared in 2017. The war has destroyed the economy and caused more than 11 million Syrians to flee their homes. According to the Observatory, which relies on a network of sources in Syria, the latest death toll includes about 22,000 children and 13,000 women. Also see: Syria war enters 10th year with no hope in sight At least 129,476 Syrian soldiers, allied forces and militiamen have died, according to the Britain-based war monitor, including 1,697 members of Hezbollah. Nearly 57,000 rebels have died, as well as 13,624 members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which spearheaded the US-backed campaign against the Islamic State group, the Observatory said. The Observatory tallied 67,296 deaths among jihadists loyal to IS or to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an alliance led by a former Al-Qaeda affiliate that dominates the last rebel enclave in the Idlib region in the northwest. Also read: Fragmented politics of Syrian refugee crisis jeopardises the future of millions The death toll included 421 unidentified victims. After recent government advances, Idlib province is the last battleground between government forces, and the jihadists and their rebel allies. Damascus launched an offensive to take the region in December, causing close to one million people to flee, according to the United Nations, before Ankara and Moscow negotiated a ceasefire earlier this month. Also see: Senior member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards killed in Syria: Report NGOs continue to denounce human rights abuses by the Syrian government, including lethal chemical attacks, torture and arbitrary arrest. Tens of thousands of people have been subject to forced disappearances by the government or a myriad of armed groups, NGOs report. The war has destroyed infrastructure and crucial sectors of the economy including the oil industry.

Syria death toll 384,000 after nine years of war: Monitor

An airstrike killed 26 fighters of Iraqi paramilitary group Hashed al-Shaabi in eastern Syria after a deadly attack on US-led coalition troops in Iraq, a war monitor said Thursday.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Wednesday strike was probably carried out by the coalition.

But the anti-jihadist alliance denied having carried out any raids in Syria or neighbouring Iraq on Wednesday night.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/syria-war-enters-10th-year-with-no-hope-in-sight-285777">Syria war enters 10th year with no hope in sight</a>

"The US/Coalition did not conduct any strikes in Syria or Iraq last night," a spokesman said in a statement to the source.

Before the strike near the border town of Albu Kamal, rockets were fired at a military base north of Baghdad hosting coalition troops, killing two Americans and one Briton.

It was the deadliest such attack in years on an Iraqi military base hosting foreign troops.

Also see: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/reports-of-pakistani-fighters-killed-in-idlib-no-response-from-imran-govt-284961">Reports of Pakistani fighters killed in Idlib; no response from Imran govt</a>

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the United States has blamed Iran-backed factions from the Hashed al-Shaabi for similar violence in recent months.

Within hours, the airstrikes were launched against Hashed forces just across the border in Syria.

Hardline Hashed factions have fought alongside Syrian government forces for several years and have been targeted by both coalition and Israeli airstrikes.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/fragmented-politics-of-syrian-refugee-crisis-jeopardises-the-future-of-millions-285579">Fragmented politics of Syrian refugee crisis jeopardises the future of millions</a>

Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria since the start of the war in 2011, which it says mainly target Iranian forces and allied Lebanese fighters.

The coalition has been carrying out airstrikes in Syria since 2014 when the Islamic State group overran a large swathe of the country and neighbouring Iraq.

Coalition-backed forces last year expelled the jihadists from their last outpost in eastern Syria, but the group retains sleeper cells on both sides of the border.

An airstrike killed 26 fighters of Iraqi paramilitary group Hashed al-Shaabi in eastern Syria after a deadly attack on US-led coalition troops in Iraq, a war monitor said Thursday.

An airstrike killed 26 fighters of Iraqi paramilitary group Hashed al-Shaabi in eastern Syria after a deadly attack on US-led coalition troops in Iraq, a war monitor said Thursday. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Wednesday strike was probably carried out by the coalition. But the anti-jihadist alliance denied having carried out any raids in Syria or neighbouring Iraq on Wednesday night. Also read: Syria war enters 10th year with no hope in sight "The US/Coalition did not conduct any strikes in Syria or Iraq last night," a spokesman said in a statement to the source. Before the strike near the border town of Albu Kamal, rockets were fired at a military base north of Baghdad hosting coalition troops, killing two Americans and one Briton. It was the deadliest such attack in years on an Iraqi military base hosting foreign troops. Also see: Reports of Pakistani fighters killed in Idlib; no response from Imran govt There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the United States has blamed Iran-backed factions from the Hashed al-Shaabi for similar violence in recent months. Within hours, the airstrikes were launched against Hashed forces just across the border in Syria. Hardline Hashed factions have fought alongside Syrian government forces for several years and have been targeted by both coalition and Israeli airstrikes. Also read: Fragmented politics of Syrian refugee crisis jeopardises the future of millions Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria since the start of the war in 2011, which it says mainly target Iranian forces and allied Lebanese fighters. The coalition has been carrying out airstrikes in Syria since 2014 when the Islamic State group overran a large swathe of the country and neighbouring Iraq. Coalition-backed forces last year expelled the jihadists from their last outpost in eastern Syria, but the group retains sleeper cells on both sides of the border.

East Syria strike kills 26 Iraqi fighters: Monitor

By Juline Beaujouan and Amjed Rasheed

The Syrian province of Idlib, the remaining holdout of rebels fighting the regime of Bashar al-Assad, has experienced fierce fighting in recent months as the Syrian army, supported by Russia, has pushed to reclaim the territory.

Meanwhile, the expansionist impulses of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in north-west Syria brought Turkey into direct confrontation with Assad’s forces in Idlib and exacerbated tensions with Russia. A ceasefire was agreed in early March, but tensions in the region remain high.

Even before the military escalation in Idlib, the Turkish attack on Kurds in north-eastern Syria in October 2019 had added a layer of complexity to the conflict. Now the recent assaults on Syrians in Idlib have led to the exodus of an estimated 1 million civilians. UN officials said it was “the fastest-growing displacement” they had ever seen in Syria.

Many people fled to Turkey, already home to around 3.5 million Syrian refugees. On February 29, Turkey opened its border with Greece, apparently to put pressure on Europe to support its operations in Idlib.

Sadly, this wave of migration is only the latest flashpoint in the worst humanitarian crisis since the horrors of the second world war. But even this crisis, with thousands now stuck in no-man’s land on the Greek-Turkish border, hasn’t triggered a way through the regional and domestic blockages that have prevented an end to the bloodshed in Syria. This is something we’ve written about in a new book on the Syrian refugee crisis.

Regional inertia 
 
Since 2011, the humanitarian consequences of the Syrian crisis have spilled over several Middle Eastern countries. But there has been no collective, regional response – largely because of political fragmentation and competition for power.

One striking illustration of these dynamics is the inertia of the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The two organisations have repeatedly failed to provide effective responses to regional issues such as the turmoil in Yemen and Libya or the rise of extremist groups in Iraq and Syria. The Syrian refugee crisis, and more recently the situation in north-west Syria, are no exceptions.

The Arab League has limited its intervention to support for efforts by the international community to mitigate the impact of the refugee crisis. As for the GCC, its actions were overshadowed by an internal rift and the involvement of Qatar and Saudi Arabia in the Syrian chaos. This means that the humanitarian burden has continued to be borne by countries that host Syrian refugees.

Some may have expected Arab solidarity in the face of a crisis that emerged in the context of wider Arab uprisings. Yet even in the Arab countries that have hosted the bulk of refugees from Syria, such as Jordan and Lebanon, the government and people distanced themselves from their Arab brothers as the crisis became protracted.

The national borders in the Middle East that were drawn up after the first world war still remain contested &nbsp;by pan-Arab, pan-Islamic and pan-Kurdish movements. Nevertheless, the Syrian refugee crisis showed how these borders and national identities are powerful drivers of everyday politics.

A crisis politicised

The stance of the governments in Jordan and Lebanon towards the Syrian conflict shaped the countries’ refugee policy. What started as a policy of open doors evolved from 2014 when restrictions were imposed on Syrians entering and staying in both countries. Jordan and Lebanon then began to cooperate with the international community to mitigate the refugee crisis in early 2016, and eventually began to actively encourage the return of refugees to Syria in 2018.

Lebanon’s ruling elites capitalised on the humanitarian crisis by portraying the Syrian refugees as a security threat. Pro-Assad political parties Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement used this narrative to undermine anti-Assad political forces in Lebanon, namely a party called the Future Movement. This, in turn, created a sense of urgency which encouraged the flow of foreign aid into the country in an attempt to bring stability. But this foreign aid fed corruption.

The media has also played an important role in shaping the perception of Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon by circulating a twofold government-sponsored narrative about the crisis. On one hand, this narrative tried to reassure Lebanese people of a sense of normalcy and fostered patience and societal strength. On the other, the government framed the refugee crisis as an emergency to convince international donors to channel humanitarian aid to the country. But as we found in our research, it was the second narrative that dominated, causing confusion among Lebanese and Jordanians who have started to ask for their share of the foreign aid.

Stuck in the middle

Amid this fragmented regional landscape and the politicisation of the crisis at the regional and national levels, the fate of Syrian refugees remains unclear. Russia has offered to facilitate dialogue between host countries – mainly Lebanon – and the Assad regime regarding the return of Syrian populations. But the ongoing process of their return to their home country might now be hampered by diplomatic tensions between Syria and its neighbours, especially Lebanon and Turkey.

The safe return of Syrian refugees will also be restricted by the demographic changes initiated by the Turkish government in efforts to eliminate the Kurdish presence along its border. The fate of returnees is also jeopardised by the Assad regime’s policies against those who took part in the uprising, those who didn’t answer the conscription call during the war or those who own properties in former rebel-held areas.

The Syrian refugee crisis will remain a major card both in the hands of the countries involved militarily in the conflict, and those hosting refugees. As for the Syrian refugees themselves, their lives, rights and future are precarious. They remain the primary victims of the regional competition for power.

(Juline Beaujouan is Research Associate, Political Settlements Research Programme, University of Edinburgh)

(Amjed Rasheed is Research Fellow, School of Government and International Affairs, Durham University)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-fragmented-politics-of-the-syrian-refugee-crisis-jeopardises-the-future-of-millions-132533"> original article</a>) 
 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

By Juline Beaujouan and Amjed Rasheed The Syrian province of Idlib, the remaining holdout of rebels fighting the regime of Bashar al-Assad, has experienced fierce fighting in recent months as the Syrian army, supported by Russia, has pushed to reclaim the territory.

By Juline Beaujouan and Amjed Rasheed The Syrian province of Idlib, the remaining holdout of rebels fighting the regime of Bashar al-Assad, has experienced fierce fighting in recent months as the Syrian army, supported by Russia, has pushed to reclaim the territory. Meanwhile, the expansionist impulses of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in north-west Syria brought Turkey into direct confrontation with Assad’s forces in Idlib and exacerbated tensions with Russia. A ceasefire was agreed in early March, but tensions in the region remain high. Even before the military escalation in Idlib, the Turkish attack on Kurds in north-eastern Syria in October 2019 had added a layer of complexity to the conflict. Now the recent assaults on Syrians in Idlib have led to the exodus of an estimated 1 million civilians. UN officials said it was “the fastest-growing displacement” they had ever seen in Syria. Many people fled to Turkey, already home to around 3.5 million Syrian refugees. On February 29, Turkey opened its border with Greece, apparently to put pressure on Europe to support its operations in Idlib. Sadly, this wave of migration is only the latest flashpoint in the worst humanitarian crisis since the horrors of the second world war. But even this crisis, with thousands now stuck in no-man’s land on the Greek-Turkish border, hasn’t triggered a way through the regional and domestic blockages that have prevented an end to the bloodshed in Syria. This is something we’ve written about in a new book on the Syrian refugee crisis. Regional inertia Since 2011, the humanitarian consequences of the Syrian crisis have spilled over several Middle Eastern countries. But there has been no collective, regional response – largely because of political fragmentation and competition for power. One striking illustration of these dynamics is the inertia of the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The two organisations have repeatedly failed to provide effective responses to regional issues such as the turmoil in Yemen and Libya or the rise of extremist groups in Iraq and Syria. The Syrian refugee crisis, and more recently the situation in north-west Syria, are no exceptions. The Arab League has limited its intervention to support for efforts by the international community to mitigate the impact of the refugee crisis. As for the GCC, its actions were overshadowed by an internal rift and the involvement of Qatar and Saudi Arabia in the Syrian chaos. This means that the humanitarian burden has continued to be borne by countries that host Syrian refugees. Some may have expected Arab solidarity in the face of a crisis that emerged in the context of wider Arab uprisings. Yet even in the Arab countries that have hosted the bulk of refugees from Syria, such as Jordan and Lebanon, the government and people distanced themselves from their Arab brothers as the crisis became protracted. The national borders in the Middle East that were drawn up after the first world war still remain contested by pan-Arab, pan-Islamic and pan-Kurdish movements. Nevertheless, the Syrian refugee crisis showed how these borders and national identities are powerful drivers of everyday politics. A crisis politicised The stance of the governments in Jordan and Lebanon towards the Syrian conflict shaped the countries’ refugee policy. What started as a policy of open doors evolved from 2014 when restrictions were imposed on Syrians entering and staying in both countries. Jordan and Lebanon then began to cooperate with the international community to mitigate the refugee crisis in early 2016, and eventually began to actively encourage the return of refugees to Syria in 2018. Lebanon’s ruling elites capitalised on the humanitarian crisis by portraying the Syrian refugees as a security threat. Pro-Assad political parties Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement used this narrative to undermine anti-Assad political forces in Lebanon, namely a party called the Future Movement. This, in turn, created a sense of urgency which encouraged the flow of foreign aid into the country in an attempt to bring stability. But this foreign aid fed corruption. The media has also played an important role in shaping the perception of Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon by circulating a twofold government-sponsored narrative about the crisis. On one hand, this narrative tried to reassure Lebanese people of a sense of normalcy and fostered patience and societal strength. On the other, the government framed the refugee crisis as an emergency to convince international donors to channel humanitarian aid to the country. But as we found in our research, it was the second narrative that dominated, causing confusion among Lebanese and Jordanians who have started to ask for their share of the foreign aid. Stuck in the middle Amid this fragmented regional landscape and the politicisation of the crisis at the regional and national levels, the fate of Syrian refugees remains unclear. Russia has offered to facilitate dialogue between host countries – mainly Lebanon – and the Assad regime regarding the return of Syrian populations. But the ongoing process of their return to their home country might now be hampered by diplomatic tensions between Syria and its neighbours, especially Lebanon and Turkey. The safe return of Syrian refugees will also be restricted by the demographic changes initiated by the Turkish government in efforts to eliminate the Kurdish presence along its border. The fate of returnees is also jeopardised by the Assad regime’s policies against those who took part in the uprising, those who didn’t answer the conscription call during the war or those who own properties in former rebel-held areas. The Syrian refugee crisis will remain a major card both in the hands of the countries involved militarily in the conflict, and those hosting refugees. As for the Syrian refugees themselves, their lives, rights and future are precarious. They remain the primary victims of the regional competition for power. (Juline Beaujouan is Research Associate, Political Settlements Research Programme, University of Edinburgh) (Amjed Rasheed is Research Fellow, School of Government and International Affairs, Durham University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article)

Fragmented politics of Syrian refugee crisis jeopardises the future of millions

Turkey urged Russia on Wednesday to deal with alleged violations of a week-old ceasefire by Syrian government forces in Idlib, the last bastion of resistance to President Bashar al-Assad.

"Although there are only small incidents here and there, the ceasefire has started to be violated," said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who backs some rebel groups in Idlib.

"We are sharing these developments with Russia... and expect them to take measures."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkish-president-erdogan-says-us-offering-patriot-systems-if-s-400s-remain-unboxed-285504">Turkish President Erdogan says US offering Patriot systems if S-400s remain unboxed</a>

Erdogan agreed a truce last week with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, who supports government forces, but previous deals have proved temporary.

Turkey launched a military operation in Syria after more than 50 of its soldiers were killed in Idlib last month.

Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said talks were proceeding "in a constructive fashion" with Russia to launch joint patrols along the key M4 road in Idlib on Sunday, as agreed under the ceasefire deal.

Also see: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/migrant-deal-with-european-union-needs-to-be-updated-turkey-285469">Migrant deal with European Union needs to be updated: Turkey</a>

As well as supporting some rebel groups, Turkey set up military observation posts in Idlib under a 2018 deal with Russia aimed at preventing a regime assault.

"We signed the temporary ceasefire in Moscow. The matter now is to turn this ceasefire into a permanent one. We are chasing this speedily now. Once we are done with it, we will have an easier task," Erdogan said.

"In the face of the smallest attack (on our posts), we will not only retaliate, but we will respond much more heavily."

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-pitches-for-constitutional-amendment-mps-back-package-of-changes-285487"> Putin pitches for constitutional amendment, MPs back package of changes</a>

Damascus, backed by Iranian troops and Russian air strikes, has been fighting to retake Idlib since December, pushing close to a million civilians northwards towards Turkey's border.

Turkey already hosts some four million refugees, and has called for greater assistance from Europe and its NATO partners in dealing with the crisis.

Turkey urged Russia on Wednesday to deal with alleged violations of a week-old ceasefire by Syrian government forces in Idlib, the last bastion of resistance to President Bashar al-Assad.

Turkey urged Russia on Wednesday to deal with alleged violations of a week-old ceasefire by Syrian government forces in Idlib, the last bastion of resistance to President Bashar al-Assad. "Although there are only small incidents here and there, the ceasefire has started to be violated," said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who backs some rebel groups in Idlib. "We are sharing these developments with Russia... and expect them to take measures." Also read: Turkish President Erdogan says US offering Patriot systems if S-400s remain unboxed Erdogan agreed a truce last week with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, who supports government forces, but previous deals have proved temporary. Turkey launched a military operation in Syria after more than 50 of its soldiers were killed in Idlib last month. Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said talks were proceeding "in a constructive fashion" with Russia to launch joint patrols along the key M4 road in Idlib on Sunday, as agreed under the ceasefire deal. Also see: Migrant deal with European Union needs to be updated: Turkey As well as supporting some rebel groups, Turkey set up military observation posts in Idlib under a 2018 deal with Russia aimed at preventing a regime assault. "We signed the temporary ceasefire in Moscow. The matter now is to turn this ceasefire into a permanent one. We are chasing this speedily now. Once we are done with it, we will have an easier task," Erdogan said. "In the face of the smallest attack (on our posts), we will not only retaliate, but we will respond much more heavily." Also read: Putin pitches for constitutional amendment, MPs back package of changes Damascus, backed by Iranian troops and Russian air strikes, has been fighting to retake Idlib since December, pushing close to a million civilians northwards towards Turkey's border. Turkey already hosts some four million refugees, and has called for greater assistance from Europe and its NATO partners in dealing with the crisis.

Turkey urges Russia to address Syria truce violations

The loss of the important strategic city of Sarakeb in Idlib, northwest Syria, means that Turkey has lost the war to the Syrian government forces for the last rebel-held province that is set to completely re-establish the country.

Today Tonight: Idlib resident face horrific realities

At least 32 people died Saturday after a fuel tanker crashed into two buses and several other vehicles on a road connecting the Syrian capital to Homs province, state media reported.

Brake failure caused the tanker to crash into 15 vehicles and two large busses carrying several Iraqi passengers, said Interior Minister Mohammad Khaled al-Rahmoun, while inspecting the site of the accident outside Damascus.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/senior-member-of-irans-revolutionary-guards-killed-in-syria-report-284924">Senior member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards killed in Syria: Report</a>

Another 77 people were injured in the accident, he added, in comments carried by SANA.

Footage aired on state media showed rescue teams deployed around the mangled remains of two cars.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/syria-civil-war-the-worst-humanitarian-crisis-of-the-21st-century-284693">Syria civil war: The worst humanitarian crisis of the 21st century</a>

SANA released photos of a passenger bus with one end blown off.

Victims of the crash are believed to include Shiite Iraqi pilgrims visiting holy shrines near the capital.

Watch:&nbsp;

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Holy sites in Syria continue to be popular among Shiite pilgrims from across the region, despite an eight-year war that has displaced millions.

At least 32 people died Saturday after a fuel tanker crashed into two buses and several other vehicles on a road connecting the Syrian capital to Homs province, state media reported.

At least 32 people died Saturday after a fuel tanker crashed into two buses and several other vehicles on a road connecting the Syrian capital to Homs province, state media reported. Brake failure caused the tanker to crash into 15 vehicles and two large busses carrying several Iraqi passengers, said Interior Minister Mohammad Khaled al-Rahmoun, while inspecting the site of the accident outside Damascus. Also read: Senior member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards killed in Syria: Report Another 77 people were injured in the accident, he added, in comments carried by SANA. Footage aired on state media showed rescue teams deployed around the mangled remains of two cars. Also see: Syria civil war: The worst humanitarian crisis of the 21st century SANA released photos of a passenger bus with one end blown off. Victims of the crash are believed to include Shiite Iraqi pilgrims visiting holy shrines near the capital. Watch: × Holy sites in Syria continue to be popular among Shiite pilgrims from across the region, despite an eight-year war that has displaced millions.

Syria road crash kills 32, including Iraqis

Stop migrants crossing in Aegean Sea: Erdogan to Turkey coastguard

As Greece faced fresh violence on its borders on Saturday, Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered the Turkish coastguard to prevent migrants crossing the Aegean sea. <a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/stop-migrants-crossing-in-aegean-sea-erdogan-to-turkey-coastguard-284932">Read More</a>

US Congress report faults Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing for 737 Max crashes

In a 13-page report, a US congressional committee said Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) and Boeing missed "multiple red flags and clear data points”.&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/us-congress-report-faults-federal-aviation-administration-boeing-for-737-max-crashes-284939">Read More</a>

Melania Trump tweets about White House tennis pavilion as US battles coronavirus

US First lady Melania Trump shared with her social media followers the status on the construction of a new White House tennis pavilion. <a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/melania-trump-tweets-about-white-house-tennis-pavilion-as-us-battles-coronavirus-284927">Read More</a>

Tourism industry across the world takes a hit as COVID-19 spreads more widely

The global tourism industry is the worst affected due to COVID-19 as the breakout of coronavirus has turned businesses upside down.&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/tourism-industry-across-the-world-takes-a-hit-as-covid-19-spreads-more-widely-284923">Read More</a>

Senior member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards killed in Syria: Report

A senior member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Farhad Dabirian, was "martyred" in Syria on Friday, Fars news agency reported, without giving details of how he died.&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/senior-member-of-irans-revolutionary-guards-killed-in-syria-report-284924">Read More</a>

Philippines' Duterte to declare public health emergency to combat coronavirus

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte plans to declare a nationwide public health emergency following confirmation of the country's first community transmission of the disease, the presidential aide said on Saturday. <a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/philippines-duterte-to-declare-public-health-emergency-to-combat-coronavirus-284922">Read More</a>

Former Barcelona forward Ronaldinho arrested in Paraguay

Former Brazil and Barcelona forward Ronaldinho Gaucho was arrested in Paraguay on Friday for attempting to enter the country with an adulterated passport, Paraguayan police said.&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/former-barcelona-forward-ronaldinho-arrested-in-paraguay-284891">Read More</a>

Trump replaces acting chief of staff Mulvaney with North Carolina lawmaker

President Donald Trump parted ways on Friday with acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and replaced him with conservative lawmaker and close ally Mark Meadows, who was a strong Trump defender during the Democratic impeachment drive.&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/trump-replaces-acting-chief-of-staff-mulvaney-with-north-carolina-lawmaker-284889">Read More</a>

Saudi Arabia detains two senior royals, including king's brother: Report

Saudi Arabia has detained two senior members of the Saudi royal family&nbsp;Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, the younger brother of King Salman, and Mohammed bin Nayef, the king's nephew, two sources with knowledge of the matter said.<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/saudi-arabia-detains-two-senior-royals-including-kings-brother-report-284871"> Read More</a>

Coronavirus may cause $61 million loss to Pakistan: ADB

Cash strapped Pakistan may face losses up to $ 61 million due to the deadly coronavirus outbreak, the ADB has said in its assessment report on the impact of the novel COVID-19 outbreak. <a href="http://13.235.153.162/south-asia/coronavirus-may-cause-61-million-loss-to-pakistan-adb-284934">Read More</a>

Stop migrants crossing in Aegean Sea: Erdogan to Turkey coastguard As Greece faced fresh violence on its borders on Saturday, Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered the Turkish coastguard to prevent migrants crossing the Aegean sea.

Stop migrants crossing in Aegean Sea: Erdogan to Turkey coastguard As Greece faced fresh violence on its borders on Saturday, Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered the Turkish coastguard to prevent migrants crossing the Aegean sea. Read More US Congress report faults Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing for 737 Max crashes In a 13-page report, a US congressional committee said Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) and Boeing missed "multiple red flags and clear data points”. Read More Melania Trump tweets about White House tennis pavilion as US battles coronavirus US First lady Melania Trump shared with her social media followers the status on the construction of a new White House tennis pavilion. Read More Tourism industry across the world takes a hit as COVID-19 spreads more widely The global tourism industry is the worst affected due to COVID-19 as the breakout of coronavirus has turned businesses upside down. Read More Senior member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards killed in Syria: Report A senior member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Farhad Dabirian, was "martyred" in Syria on Friday, Fars news agency reported, without giving details of how he died. Read More Philippines' Duterte to declare public health emergency to combat coronavirus Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte plans to declare a nationwide public health emergency following confirmation of the country's first community transmission of the disease, the presidential aide said on Saturday. Read More Former Barcelona forward Ronaldinho arrested in Paraguay Former Brazil and Barcelona forward Ronaldinho Gaucho was arrested in Paraguay on Friday for attempting to enter the country with an adulterated passport, Paraguayan police said. Read More Trump replaces acting chief of staff Mulvaney with North Carolina lawmaker President Donald Trump parted ways on Friday with acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and replaced him with conservative lawmaker and close ally Mark Meadows, who was a strong Trump defender during the Democratic impeachment drive. Read More Saudi Arabia detains two senior royals, including king's brother: Report Saudi Arabia has detained two senior members of the Saudi royal family Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, the younger brother of King Salman, and Mohammed bin Nayef, the king's nephew, two sources with knowledge of the matter said. Read More Coronavirus may cause $61 million loss to Pakistan: ADB Cash strapped Pakistan may face losses up to $ 61 million due to the deadly coronavirus outbreak, the ADB has said in its assessment report on the impact of the novel COVID-19 outbreak. Read More

Top 10 world news today: Erdogan on migrants, Iran army member killed in Syria & more!

A senior member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Farhad Dabirian, was "martyred" in Syria on Friday, Fars news agency reported, without giving details of how he died.

The agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards, described Dabirian as a "defender of Sayida Zainab shrine," the holy Shi'ite Muslim site south of Damascus, and as a former commander of the Guards in Palmyra, the ancient city in central Syria.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hardline-guards-make-early-gains-in-restricted-iran-election-282174">Hardline Guards make early gains in restricted Iran election</a>

The Guards and Shi'ite proxy groups from other countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon are fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's military in the nine-year-old civil war.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-wont-hand-over-damaged-black-box-of-crashed-ukrainian-plane-foreign-minister-zarif-281603">Iran won't hand over 'damaged' black box of crashed Ukrainian plane: Foreign Minister Zarif</a>

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based organisation which reports on the war, said a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards' commander was assassinated in the Sayeda Zeinab area south of Damascus.

A senior member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Farhad Dabirian, was "martyred" in Syria on Friday, Fars news agency reported, without giving details of how he died.

A senior member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Farhad Dabirian, was "martyred" in Syria on Friday, Fars news agency reported, without giving details of how he died. The agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards, described Dabirian as a "defender of Sayida Zainab shrine," the holy Shi'ite Muslim site south of Damascus, and as a former commander of the Guards in Palmyra, the ancient city in central Syria. Also Read: Hardline Guards make early gains in restricted Iran election The Guards and Shi'ite proxy groups from other countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon are fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's military in the nine-year-old civil war. Also Read: Iran won't hand over 'damaged' black box of crashed Ukrainian plane: Foreign Minister Zarif The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based organisation which reports on the war, said a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards' commander was assassinated in the Sayeda Zeinab area south of Damascus.

Senior member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards killed in Syria: Report

Turkey and Russia agreed to a cease-fire agreement in Syria's Idlib region on Thursday after talks in Moscow by their two leaders said a conflict that displaced nearly a million people in three months.

Turkey, Russia announces Idlib ceasefire after Moscow meeting between Erdogan & Putin

Syria's war-ravaged northwest woke up to relative calm Friday, its skies free of warplanes for the first day in months, following a Russian-Turkish ceasefire deal.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group and sources in Idlib province said the truce that came into force at midnight appeared to be holding.

Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman reported "a complete absence of regime and Russian warplanes in the Idlib airspace".

He said an exchange of fire that did not cause any casualties took place before dawn but added that belligerents on Friday seemed to be observing the ceasefire.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-erdogan-seek-to-ease-syria-tensions-at-high-stakes-talks-284398">Putin, Erdogan seek to ease Syria tensions at high-stakes talks</a>

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the two main foreign brokers in the nine-year-old conflict, reached a deal after hours of talks in Moscow on Thursday.

The agreement will create a security corridor along the key M4 highway in northern Syria, where Turkish and Russian forces will launch joint patrols later this month.

Putin told a joint news conference after the talks that the agreement would "serve as a good basis for ending fighting" in Idlib and for "stopping the suffering of the civilian population".

A Russian-backed government offensive on the last rebel bastion in the country has killed hundreds of civilians since December and displaced close to a million people.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syrian-air-defence-responds-to-israeli-missiles-report-284433">Syrian air defence responds to 'Israeli missiles': Report</a>

The crisis it has sparked on Turkey's doorstep has been described by the United Nations as the worst humanitarian emergency yet since the start of the war in 2011.

Tensions had risen in recent weeks between Damascus and Turkey, which has had troops in northern Syria since 2016 and backs rebel groups.

A regime strike last month in Idlib resulted in the deaths of 34 Turkish soldiers, the heaviest loss of personnel for Ankara since its military intervention in Syria.

Turkey's reply has been bruising, with devastating drone and rocket strikes destroying regime positions and military equipment and killing dozens of government troops.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-russia-have-agreed-on-syria-ceasefire-from-midnight-president-erdogan-284594">Turkey, Russia have agreed on Syria ceasefire from midnight: President Erdogan</a>

The joint Russian-Turkish patrols will operate between the town of Tronba in Idlib and a village in Latakia province, a regime stronghold.

These patrols, which will mark the first time Russian and Turkish forces operate jointly in Idlib, are due to start on March 15.

On that day, the conflict which has killed close to 400,000 people and displaced half of the population of Syria, will enter its tenth year.

Syria's war-ravaged northwest woke up to relative calm Friday, its skies free of warplanes for the first day in months, following a Russian-Turkish ceasefire deal.

Syria's war-ravaged northwest woke up to relative calm Friday, its skies free of warplanes for the first day in months, following a Russian-Turkish ceasefire deal. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group and sources in Idlib province said the truce that came into force at midnight appeared to be holding. Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman reported "a complete absence of regime and Russian warplanes in the Idlib airspace". He said an exchange of fire that did not cause any casualties took place before dawn but added that belligerents on Friday seemed to be observing the ceasefire. Also read: Putin, Erdogan seek to ease Syria tensions at high-stakes talks Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the two main foreign brokers in the nine-year-old conflict, reached a deal after hours of talks in Moscow on Thursday. The agreement will create a security corridor along the key M4 highway in northern Syria, where Turkish and Russian forces will launch joint patrols later this month. Putin told a joint news conference after the talks that the agreement would "serve as a good basis for ending fighting" in Idlib and for "stopping the suffering of the civilian population". A Russian-backed government offensive on the last rebel bastion in the country has killed hundreds of civilians since December and displaced close to a million people. Also see: Syrian air defence responds to 'Israeli missiles': Report The crisis it has sparked on Turkey's doorstep has been described by the United Nations as the worst humanitarian emergency yet since the start of the war in 2011. Tensions had risen in recent weeks between Damascus and Turkey, which has had troops in northern Syria since 2016 and backs rebel groups. A regime strike last month in Idlib resulted in the deaths of 34 Turkish soldiers, the heaviest loss of personnel for Ankara since its military intervention in Syria. Turkey's reply has been bruising, with devastating drone and rocket strikes destroying regime positions and military equipment and killing dozens of government troops. Also read: Turkey, Russia have agreed on Syria ceasefire from midnight: President Erdogan The joint Russian-Turkish patrols will operate between the town of Tronba in Idlib and a village in Latakia province, a regime stronghold. These patrols, which will mark the first time Russian and Turkish forces operate jointly in Idlib, are due to start on March 15. On that day, the conflict which has killed close to 400,000 people and displaced half of the population of Syria, will enter its tenth year.

Rare calm in Syria's Idlib after ceasefire deal

By Shelley Inglis

Remember former President Barack Obama’s infamous red line speech in 2012? In that speech, the president made it clear that the US would not stand for the use of chemical or biological weapons by President Bashar al-Assad against opposition forces in Syria.

But, despite subsequent evidence of the use of these weapons by Assad’s forces, the US declined to directly confront the regime.

A complex, devastating conflict has continued ever since, killing close to 400,000 Syrians and forcing millions from their homes. It has involved a range of players over nine years: the Assad-controlled government regime, various rebel opposition groups, the Islamic State, Syria’s Kurdish minority and major international powers, including the United States, Iran, Turkey, Russia and the European Union.

Consequently, some confusion about current events and what they mean is understandable. So, here are some answers to key questions about why Syria is back in the news.

1. What’s going on right now?

The war in Syria has resulted in more than 11 million people displaced. Over half of these displaced people are refugees, with the vast majority currently hosted in the regional states of Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.

The war has now reached a crisis point. Since December, the Russian-backed Assad regime has significantly increased air and ground assaults on civilian sites in Idlib province, causing destruction and mass displacement.

Idlib is considered the remaining stronghold of the rebel opposition to Assad’s regime. Lying in the northeast of Syria bordering Turkey, it is home to approximately 3.5 million people.

The United Nations has repeatedly called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Nonetheless, the assaults continued.

2. How many people are fleeing?

Since December, nearly 950,000 people, an estimated 80 per cent of whom are women and children, have fled their homes because of ground and air assaults by the Russian-backed Assad forces during an uncharacteristically cold winter.

Many live in makeshift displaced persons camps in northern Syria. Reports show that women are burning plastic to keep warm, and babies and children are dying due to the cold.

The UN estimates that close to 2 million Syrians are in need of humanitarian assistance. While aid is being delivered, it is insufficient to meet the needs of families for food, clean water and heating.

Local aid workers have also been killed.

3. Why is this considered a humanitarian crisis?

Until early January, humanitarian assistance was coming from international organizations into Syria through Iraq. Aid is currently coming in through Turkey, as it affords the most feasible route for people to seek refuge and for humanitarian assistance to get through to Syria.

However, Turkey has effectively closed its borders to those fleeing from Idlib, noting it already hosts over 3.6 million Syrian refugees.

Some reports put the death toll around Idlib in the thousands. The UN has recorded hundreds of deaths in Idlib and Aleppo due to the recent attacks, which are backed militarily by Russia. Many medical facilities and schools have been targeted or impacted.

Experts claim that the attacks are part of a strategy to explicitly target civilians. Such targeting of civilians, schools and hospitals could be war crimes – grave violations of the law of war.

The UN Commission of Inquiry and European courts are investigating crimes committed during the Syrian conflict.

4. Who is involved in this fight?

The conflict in Syria started with a peaceful uprising in 2011 against the four-decade authoritarian rule of the Assad family. Since then, it has become increasingly complicated, involving a number of countries near and far.

Iran has remained a steadfast supporter of Assad throughout the conflict, although its exact military and financial support is difficult to track.

In 2015, Russia, a historic ally of the Assad family, directly entered the conflict to support the government through airstrikes. It controls much of the airspace in northern Syria today.

The United States entered the war as part of a coalition in 2014. It has supported Syrian Kurdish militia, known as the People’s Protection Units, in a joint fight against the Islamic State, which had gained power in parts of Syria. The United States’ support of the Syrian Kurds has consistently rattled Turkey, which links the group to its own Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist group by neighbouring Turkey, the European Union and the United States.

In October, President Donald Trump ordered the removal of U.S. military personnel from northern Syria, abandoning the traditional support by the US for Syrian Kurds and opening up advantages for the Assad regime and Russia.

In response, Turkey intervened militarily to undermine the Syrian Kurds and create a safe zone along its borders. These actions infuriated Turkey’s western allies because it heightened the conflict in parts of the north that had been peacefully governed by the Syrian Kurds.

While Turkey and Russia do not agree on Syria, they have been coming closer since 2015, even overcoming crises like the downing of a Russian aircraft by Turkish forces near the Syrian border.

Turkey, the United States and European Union states are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, known as NATO. Deepening a divide between Turkey and NATO is considered by experts to be in the interest of Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin.

5. What now? 
The humanitarian crisis is grave, and the situation in flux. With the fighting around Idlib continuing, international tensions are flaring.

After 33 Turkish soldiers died in an attack by Russian-backed Syrian forces on Feb. 27, Turkey called for NATO to meet and has retaliated in Syria. Russia has denied any involvement in the specific assault.

Neither Turkey nor Russia appears to be decreasing their interventions in Syria.

With Russia wielding a veto power on the United Nations Security Council, the institution responsible for addressing threats to international peace and security has been unable to effectively intervene to halt the conflict and protect civilians.

Many experts contend that the war could be in its final throes and some victory for Assad is no longer in question. For now, the Trump administration has indicated it has no intention of reengaging in Syria to protect the people of Idlib.

However, in such a complex conflict, the delicate balance of interests can be disrupted. For example, Turkey has opened its borders for Syrian refugees to flow into Europe, creating a potential renewed crisis for the European Union.

Turkey has asked NATO for military support for a no-fly zone over Idlib, but has gained no traction so far. Experts agree that the best route to protect civilians would be such a zone and argue the United States must play a role.

Others are calling for an EU-NATO intervention to protect the people of Idlib. The EU is meeting to discuss the crisis.

For now, Turkey is taking on the Syrian forces alone and claiming some success. Russia and Turkey are set to meet to discuss the conflict on March 5.

(Shelley Inglis is Executive Director, University of Dayton Human Rights Center, University of Dayton)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-worst-humanitarian-crisis-of-the-21st-century-5-questions-on-syria-answered-132571"> original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp;

By Shelley Inglis Remember former President Barack Obama’s infamous red line speech in 2012? In that speech, the president made it clear that the US would not stand for the use of chemical or biological weapons by President Bashar al-Assad against opposition forces in Syria.

By Shelley Inglis Remember former President Barack Obama’s infamous red line speech in 2012? In that speech, the president made it clear that the US would not stand for the use of chemical or biological weapons by President Bashar al-Assad against opposition forces in Syria. But, despite subsequent evidence of the use of these weapons by Assad’s forces, the US declined to directly confront the regime. A complex, devastating conflict has continued ever since, killing close to 400,000 Syrians and forcing millions from their homes. It has involved a range of players over nine years: the Assad-controlled government regime, various rebel opposition groups, the Islamic State, Syria’s Kurdish minority and major international powers, including the United States, Iran, Turkey, Russia and the European Union. Consequently, some confusion about current events and what they mean is understandable. So, here are some answers to key questions about why Syria is back in the news. 1. What’s going on right now? The war in Syria has resulted in more than 11 million people displaced. Over half of these displaced people are refugees, with the vast majority currently hosted in the regional states of Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. The war has now reached a crisis point. Since December, the Russian-backed Assad regime has significantly increased air and ground assaults on civilian sites in Idlib province, causing destruction and mass displacement. Idlib is considered the remaining stronghold of the rebel opposition to Assad’s regime. Lying in the northeast of Syria bordering Turkey, it is home to approximately 3.5 million people. The United Nations has repeatedly called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Nonetheless, the assaults continued. 2. How many people are fleeing? Since December, nearly 950,000 people, an estimated 80 per cent of whom are women and children, have fled their homes because of ground and air assaults by the Russian-backed Assad forces during an uncharacteristically cold winter. Many live in makeshift displaced persons camps in northern Syria. Reports show that women are burning plastic to keep warm, and babies and children are dying due to the cold. The UN estimates that close to 2 million Syrians are in need of humanitarian assistance. While aid is being delivered, it is insufficient to meet the needs of families for food, clean water and heating. Local aid workers have also been killed. 3. Why is this considered a humanitarian crisis? Until early January, humanitarian assistance was coming from international organizations into Syria through Iraq. Aid is currently coming in through Turkey, as it affords the most feasible route for people to seek refuge and for humanitarian assistance to get through to Syria. However, Turkey has effectively closed its borders to those fleeing from Idlib, noting it already hosts over 3.6 million Syrian refugees. Some reports put the death toll around Idlib in the thousands. The UN has recorded hundreds of deaths in Idlib and Aleppo due to the recent attacks, which are backed militarily by Russia. Many medical facilities and schools have been targeted or impacted. Experts claim that the attacks are part of a strategy to explicitly target civilians. Such targeting of civilians, schools and hospitals could be war crimes – grave violations of the law of war. The UN Commission of Inquiry and European courts are investigating crimes committed during the Syrian conflict. 4. Who is involved in this fight? The conflict in Syria started with a peaceful uprising in 2011 against the four-decade authoritarian rule of the Assad family. Since then, it has become increasingly complicated, involving a number of countries near and far. Iran has remained a steadfast supporter of Assad throughout the conflict, although its exact military and financial support is difficult to track. In 2015, Russia, a historic ally of the Assad family, directly entered the conflict to support the government through airstrikes. It controls much of the airspace in northern Syria today. The United States entered the war as part of a coalition in 2014. It has supported Syrian Kurdish militia, known as the People’s Protection Units, in a joint fight against the Islamic State, which had gained power in parts of Syria. The United States’ support of the Syrian Kurds has consistently rattled Turkey, which links the group to its own Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist group by neighbouring Turkey, the European Union and the United States. In October, President Donald Trump ordered the removal of U.S. military personnel from northern Syria, abandoning the traditional support by the US for Syrian Kurds and opening up advantages for the Assad regime and Russia. In response, Turkey intervened militarily to undermine the Syrian Kurds and create a safe zone along its borders. These actions infuriated Turkey’s western allies because it heightened the conflict in parts of the north that had been peacefully governed by the Syrian Kurds. While Turkey and Russia do not agree on Syria, they have been coming closer since 2015, even overcoming crises like the downing of a Russian aircraft by Turkish forces near the Syrian border. Turkey, the United States and European Union states are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, known as NATO. Deepening a divide between Turkey and NATO is considered by experts to be in the interest of Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin. 5. What now? The humanitarian crisis is grave, and the situation in flux. With the fighting around Idlib continuing, international tensions are flaring. After 33 Turkish soldiers died in an attack by Russian-backed Syrian forces on Feb. 27, Turkey called for NATO to meet and has retaliated in Syria. Russia has denied any involvement in the specific assault. Neither Turkey nor Russia appears to be decreasing their interventions in Syria. With Russia wielding a veto power on the United Nations Security Council, the institution responsible for addressing threats to international peace and security has been unable to effectively intervene to halt the conflict and protect civilians. Many experts contend that the war could be in its final throes and some victory for Assad is no longer in question. For now, the Trump administration has indicated it has no intention of reengaging in Syria to protect the people of Idlib. However, in such a complex conflict, the delicate balance of interests can be disrupted. For example, Turkey has opened its borders for Syrian refugees to flow into Europe, creating a potential renewed crisis for the European Union. Turkey has asked NATO for military support for a no-fly zone over Idlib, but has gained no traction so far. Experts agree that the best route to protect civilians would be such a zone and argue the United States must play a role. Others are calling for an EU-NATO intervention to protect the people of Idlib. The EU is meeting to discuss the crisis. For now, Turkey is taking on the Syrian forces alone and claiming some success. Russia and Turkey are set to meet to discuss the conflict on March 5. (Shelley Inglis is Executive Director, University of Dayton Human Rights Center, University of Dayton) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Syria civil war: The worst humanitarian crisis of the 21st century

The leaders of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-fighter-jet-downs-syrian-warplane-over-idlib-monitor-283993">Russia and Turkey meet in Moscow</a> on Thursday in a bid to ease tensions that have threatened to bring their two countries into direct conflict in Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would be looking for Russia's Vladimir Putin to agree to a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-european-union-envoy-heads-to-turkey-for-syrian-refugee-talks-283921">rapid ceasefire in Idlib</a>, the northwestern province of Syria where Ankara is battling Moscow-backed regime forces.

Intense fighting has killed dozens of Turkish soldiers in Idlib in recent weeks, as Ankara for the first time launched a direct offensive against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Erdogan upped the stakes last week, demanding<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/war-threatens-to-spill-beyond-syrias-borders-283794"> Europe support his efforts in Syria</a> and prompting a new migration crisis by opening Turkey's border with Greece to refugees and migrants.

"(I hope) there will be a ceasefire swiftly established" in Idlib, Erdogan said Wednesday ahead of the talks.

Ankara wants Assad's forces to cease an assault on Idlib, the last rebel stronghold in Syria, and pull back behind lines agreed under a 2018 deal with Russia brokered in Sochi.

Turkey has long backed certain rebel groups against Assad but its priority now is to stop another influx of refugees, as close to a million civilians in Idlib have been displaced by the regime's latest assault.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday the two leaders would discuss the causes and effects of the crisis and "joint measures" they could agree to defuse it.

But Moscow -- which launched an air campaign in support of Assad in 2015 -- will be keen to send a message that Turkey cannot stand in the way of Syria eventually retaking full control of its territory.

"There might be a ceasefire announced after the talks between Putin and Erdogan but it'll be for show," a Western diplomat told AFP.

"I believe Putin will tell Erdogan that's it for his actions in Syria."

Trading accusations

The Kremlin sees Russia's campaign in Syria as a key victory of Putin's foreign policy, with clout and military bases in the country that establish Moscow as a major player in the Middle East.

Experts say Putin is not looking for a full confrontation with NATO member Turkey but also will not back down.

"Victory in Syria has become a matter of prestige for Russia -- and for Putin personally," said Yury Barmin, a Middle East analyst at the Russian International Affairs Council.

Despite supporting opposing sides in the war, Russia and Turkey have worked closely to try to resolve the nine-year conflict and avoid direct confrontation between their forces.

But that relationship has been strained in recent days, with the two sides trading accusations of violating the Sochi deal, which created a buffer zone and allowed for the deployment of 12 Turkish observation posts.

Ankara says Russia is not fulfilling part of the deal that guaranteed no attacks on Idlib and the status quo on the ground.

Moscow says Turkey is violating the deal by supporting "illegal armed groups" and has accused Turkish forces of mingling with "terrorists" who are legitimate targets.

In the latest salvo on Wednesday, Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said "the fortified positions of terrorists have merged with the Turkish observation posts" deployed under the Sochi deal.

Migrants mass on border

Turkey said Wednesday that at least two more Turkish soldiers had been killed in Idlib, after 34 died in an air strike last week blamed on Damascus.

Turkey officially declared an operation against the Assad regime over the weekend, named "Spring Shield".

It has since downed three Syrian warplanes and killed dozens of regime soldiers and allied fighters -- mostly through drone strikes -- according to monitors.

Erdogan warned Europe on Wednesday that it must support Turkey's "political and humanitarian solutions in Syria" if it wants to avoid a repeat of the 2015 migration crisis.

Thousands of migrants have massed at the Turkish-Greek border since Erdogan gave them the green light to try to enter Europe, leading to clashes with Greek police.

Turkey hosts some four million refugees, most of them Syrians but also many Afghans and Iraqis, and Erdogan's move has sparked concern in Europe of a renewed influx of migrants.

The leaders of Russia and Turkey meet in Moscow on Thursday in a bid to ease tensions that have threatened to bring their two countries into direct conflict in Syria.

The leaders of Russia and Turkey meet in Moscow on Thursday in a bid to ease tensions that have threatened to bring their two countries into direct conflict in Syria. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would be looking for Russia's Vladimir Putin to agree to a rapid ceasefire in Idlib, the northwestern province of Syria where Ankara is battling Moscow-backed regime forces. Intense fighting has killed dozens of Turkish soldiers in Idlib in recent weeks, as Ankara for the first time launched a direct offensive against President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Erdogan upped the stakes last week, demanding Europe support his efforts in Syria and prompting a new migration crisis by opening Turkey's border with Greece to refugees and migrants. "(I hope) there will be a ceasefire swiftly established" in Idlib, Erdogan said Wednesday ahead of the talks. Ankara wants Assad's forces to cease an assault on Idlib, the last rebel stronghold in Syria, and pull back behind lines agreed under a 2018 deal with Russia brokered in Sochi. Turkey has long backed certain rebel groups against Assad but its priority now is to stop another influx of refugees, as close to a million civilians in Idlib have been displaced by the regime's latest assault. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday the two leaders would discuss the causes and effects of the crisis and "joint measures" they could agree to defuse it. But Moscow -- which launched an air campaign in support of Assad in 2015 -- will be keen to send a message that Turkey cannot stand in the way of Syria eventually retaking full control of its territory. "There might be a ceasefire announced after the talks between Putin and Erdogan but it'll be for show," a Western diplomat told AFP. "I believe Putin will tell Erdogan that's it for his actions in Syria." Trading accusations The Kremlin sees Russia's campaign in Syria as a key victory of Putin's foreign policy, with clout and military bases in the country that establish Moscow as a major player in the Middle East. Experts say Putin is not looking for a full confrontation with NATO member Turkey but also will not back down. "Victory in Syria has become a matter of prestige for Russia -- and for Putin personally," said Yury Barmin, a Middle East analyst at the Russian International Affairs Council. Despite supporting opposing sides in the war, Russia and Turkey have worked closely to try to resolve the nine-year conflict and avoid direct confrontation between their forces. But that relationship has been strained in recent days, with the two sides trading accusations of violating the Sochi deal, which created a buffer zone and allowed for the deployment of 12 Turkish observation posts. Ankara says Russia is not fulfilling part of the deal that guaranteed no attacks on Idlib and the status quo on the ground. Moscow says Turkey is violating the deal by supporting "illegal armed groups" and has accused Turkish forces of mingling with "terrorists" who are legitimate targets. In the latest salvo on Wednesday, Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said "the fortified positions of terrorists have merged with the Turkish observation posts" deployed under the Sochi deal. Migrants mass on border Turkey said Wednesday that at least two more Turkish soldiers had been killed in Idlib, after 34 died in an air strike last week blamed on Damascus. Turkey officially declared an operation against the Assad regime over the weekend, named "Spring Shield". It has since downed three Syrian warplanes and killed dozens of regime soldiers and allied fighters -- mostly through drone strikes -- according to monitors. Erdogan warned Europe on Wednesday that it must support Turkey's "political and humanitarian solutions in Syria" if it wants to avoid a repeat of the 2015 migration crisis. Thousands of migrants have massed at the Turkish-Greek border since Erdogan gave them the green light to try to enter Europe, leading to clashes with Greek police. Turkey hosts some four million refugees, most of them Syrians but also many Afghans and Iraqis, and Erdogan's move has sparked concern in Europe of a renewed influx of migrants.

Putin, Erdogan seek to ease Syria tensions at high-stakes talks

The Eastern Mediterranean has become a flash-point for the meshing of geopolitics, the struggle for regional hegemony, battles for control of resources, religious soft power rivalry, and blatant interference in the politics of others.

The complex and dangerous juxtaposition of multiple conflicting interests broadens the focus beyond Russia when it comes to meddling in elections, to include countries like Turkey, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. It blurs the lines between multiple conflicts such as the wars in Syria and Libya and the struggle for control of the Eastern Mediterranean’s newly found gas deposits. And it positions contested waters as the latest venue in which Russia and the West battle for influence.

Laying bare the multiple disputes being fought on the back of the Eastern Mediterranean with its natural gas reserves of 122 trillion cubic feet resembles peeling an onion.&nbsp;

Lining up on opposing sides are Middle Eastern, North African, and Eastern Mediterranean nations, Gulf states, Turkey, Russia, and Europe.

Perhaps, most fundamental is the degree to which Europe going forward will be able to reduce its dependence on Russian gas imports. Russia currently satisfies approximately 40 per cent of the European Union’s gas needs.

The ability to reduce Russian imports with gas from the Eastern Mediterranean potentially would allow Europe to adopt a more forceful stand in the struggle between Western liberalism and Russian civilisationalism that is likely to shape new world order.

EU dependence has so far prompted European nations to temper their defence of Western values against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s civilizational policies that include territory grabs in the Caucasus and Ukraine, intimidation of Central Asian nations, and support for Western far-right, neo-Nazi, and anti-immigration forces designed to weaken liberal democracy and strengthen groups more empathetic to the Russian leader’s worldview.

“The bad news is that the Moscow-Washington confrontation will continue; the good news is that there will be some guardrails built around it. . . .The Eastern Mediterranean, however, is emerging as an area where Russia, again, is competing with the West,” said Dmitri Trenin, head of the Carnegie Moscow Center.

Trenin argued that it was the Eastern Mediterranean rather than Ukraine, Crimea, the Baltics, the Arctic, or south-eastern Europe where the tension could flare the most.

If for some nations like Greece, Cyprus, and Lebanon the struggle to control the Eastern Mediterranean’s resources is primarily about economics, for others, including Egypt and Israel it’s about projecting power. That is no truer than for Russia and Turkey, even if their interests against the backdrop of recently diverging positions on the battlefields of Libya and Syria, may differ rather than converge.

Turkey raised the stakes with its military backing of Libya’s internationally recognised Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi, Egyptian, and Russian-backed rebel leader Khalifa Haftar and his Libyan National Army (LNA).

A GNA-Turkish maritime agreement that created an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Eastern Mediterranean favouring expansive Turkish claims and the building of relations between Khalifa Haftar and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad link the war in Syria to the Eastern Mediterranean and the fighting in Libya. All at a time when Turkey and Russia manoeuvre to avoid a direct military clash in Idlib, the last stronghold of the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (SNA) rebels against Russian-backed Syrian government forces.

The economic zone, or EEZ, would block a planned pipeline that would link the EU to Israeli and Cypriot gas supplies.

If successfully enforced, the zone, coupled with Turkey’s military performance in Syria with the downing of three Syrian warplanes in as many days, would signal to regional hegemonic hopefuls, namely Saudi Arabia and the UAE, that financial muscle may not be enough to impose their will.

Ironically, one key to accommodation that could have reduced the risk of the ideological and geopolitical fuse blowing up and may have contributed to creating an environment of cooperation rather than confrontation lies on the divided island of Cyprus.

Turkey, beyond insisting that Turkish participation is a sine-qua-non for any successful exploitation of Eastern Mediterranean gas, has opposed a role for predominantly Greek-Cypriot Cyprus without the inclusion of the island’s self-declared independent Turkish Cypriot north.

Turkey, which has troops in the north ever since it invaded the island in 1974, is the only country to have recognised the region as an independent state.

The idea of including northern Cyprus may be a pie in the sky in an environment in which geopolitics is a zero-sum game with civilizationalists, nationalists, and autocrats leaving little space for power-sharing. And Europe is too preoccupied with internal problems, and most recently with a new looming Syrian refugee crisis, to project a cohesive and inclusive policy approach.

Scholar and commentator Hussein Ibish cautioned that “All the elements that have compelled the parties to the eastern Mediterranean natural gas competition to develop local alliances that are increasingly melding with other strategic, diplomatic, and political contests appears likely to continue.”

Ibish blamed tension in the Eastern Mediterranean on the “strongly pro-Islamist orientation” of Turkey as “a budding would-be regional economic and political hegemon” rather than on multiple would-be hegemons.

Nonetheless, his conclusion stands that in the Eastern Mediterranean “disputes arising over narrow issues such as natural gas reserves will continue to take on far broader significance.”

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

The Eastern Mediterranean has become a flash-point for the meshing of geopolitics, the struggle for regional hegemony, battles for control of resources, religious soft power rivalry, and blatant interference in the politics of others.

The Eastern Mediterranean has become a flash-point for the meshing of geopolitics, the struggle for regional hegemony, battles for control of resources, religious soft power rivalry, and blatant interference in the politics of others. The complex and dangerous juxtaposition of multiple conflicting interests broadens the focus beyond Russia when it comes to meddling in elections, to include countries like Turkey, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. It blurs the lines between multiple conflicts such as the wars in Syria and Libya and the struggle for control of the Eastern Mediterranean’s newly found gas deposits. And it positions contested waters as the latest venue in which Russia and the West battle for influence. Laying bare the multiple disputes being fought on the back of the Eastern Mediterranean with its natural gas reserves of 122 trillion cubic feet resembles peeling an onion. Lining up on opposing sides are Middle Eastern, North African, and Eastern Mediterranean nations, Gulf states, Turkey, Russia, and Europe. Perhaps, most fundamental is the degree to which Europe going forward will be able to reduce its dependence on Russian gas imports. Russia currently satisfies approximately 40 per cent of the European Union’s gas needs. The ability to reduce Russian imports with gas from the Eastern Mediterranean potentially would allow Europe to adopt a more forceful stand in the struggle between Western liberalism and Russian civilisationalism that is likely to shape new world order. EU dependence has so far prompted European nations to temper their defence of Western values against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s civilizational policies that include territory grabs in the Caucasus and Ukraine, intimidation of Central Asian nations, and support for Western far-right, neo-Nazi, and anti-immigration forces designed to weaken liberal democracy and strengthen groups more empathetic to the Russian leader’s worldview. “The bad news is that the Moscow-Washington confrontation will continue; the good news is that there will be some guardrails built around it. . . .The Eastern Mediterranean, however, is emerging as an area where Russia, again, is competing with the West,” said Dmitri Trenin, head of the Carnegie Moscow Center. Trenin argued that it was the Eastern Mediterranean rather than Ukraine, Crimea, the Baltics, the Arctic, or south-eastern Europe where the tension could flare the most. If for some nations like Greece, Cyprus, and Lebanon the struggle to control the Eastern Mediterranean’s resources is primarily about economics, for others, including Egypt and Israel it’s about projecting power. That is no truer than for Russia and Turkey, even if their interests against the backdrop of recently diverging positions on the battlefields of Libya and Syria, may differ rather than converge. Turkey raised the stakes with its military backing of Libya’s internationally recognised Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi, Egyptian, and Russian-backed rebel leader Khalifa Haftar and his Libyan National Army (LNA). A GNA-Turkish maritime agreement that created an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Eastern Mediterranean favouring expansive Turkish claims and the building of relations between Khalifa Haftar and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad link the war in Syria to the Eastern Mediterranean and the fighting in Libya. All at a time when Turkey and Russia manoeuvre to avoid a direct military clash in Idlib, the last stronghold of the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (SNA) rebels against Russian-backed Syrian government forces. The economic zone, or EEZ, would block a planned pipeline that would link the EU to Israeli and Cypriot gas supplies. If successfully enforced, the zone, coupled with Turkey’s military performance in Syria with the downing of three Syrian warplanes in as many days, would signal to regional hegemonic hopefuls, namely Saudi Arabia and the UAE, that financial muscle may not be enough to impose their will. Ironically, one key to accommodation that could have reduced the risk of the ideological and geopolitical fuse blowing up and may have contributed to creating an environment of cooperation rather than confrontation lies on the divided island of Cyprus. Turkey, beyond insisting that Turkish participation is a sine-qua-non for any successful exploitation of Eastern Mediterranean gas, has opposed a role for predominantly Greek-Cypriot Cyprus without the inclusion of the island’s self-declared independent Turkish Cypriot north. Turkey, which has troops in the north ever since it invaded the island in 1974, is the only country to have recognised the region as an independent state. The idea of including northern Cyprus may be a pie in the sky in an environment in which geopolitics is a zero-sum game with civilizationalists, nationalists, and autocrats leaving little space for power-sharing. And Europe is too preoccupied with internal problems, and most recently with a new looming Syrian refugee crisis, to project a cohesive and inclusive policy approach. Scholar and commentator Hussein Ibish cautioned that “All the elements that have compelled the parties to the eastern Mediterranean natural gas competition to develop local alliances that are increasingly melding with other strategic, diplomatic, and political contests appears likely to continue.” Ibish blamed tension in the Eastern Mediterranean on the “strongly pro-Islamist orientation” of Turkey as “a budding would-be regional economic and political hegemon” rather than on multiple would-be hegemons. Nonetheless, his conclusion stands that in the Eastern Mediterranean “disputes arising over narrow issues such as natural gas reserves will continue to take on far broader significance.” (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Eastern Mediterranean region: A microcosm of regional and global battles

Syrian air defence responded to Israeli missiles targeting the south and centre of the country, state media said early Thursday.

"Our air defence confronted an Israeli missile attack in the southwest of Quneitra province" in the south and also in a central region, SANA news agency said.

The short statement released after midnight did not provide details on the targets. Quneitra province is near the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-erdogan-seek-to-ease-syria-tensions-at-high-stakes-talks-284398">Putin, Erdogan seek to ease Syria tensions at high-stakes talks</a>

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes targeted two military airports in central Homs province and two areas in Quneitra province where pro-Damascus allies of Lebanese group Hezbollah are present.

But the Britain-based war monitor said there were no immediate reports of a death or any material damage.

Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria, mainly targeting government troops as well as allied Iranian forces and fighters from Hezbollah.

It is rare for the Jewish state to claim such strikes directly.

Also see: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-can-play-active-role-in-israel-palestine-peace-process-says-un-committee-on-palestine-284245">India can play active role in Israel-Palestine peace process, says UN Committee on Pales</a>tine&nbsp;

SANA quoted a military source saying that at 12.30 am on Thursday (2230 GMT Wednesday) "our air defence observed Israeli warplane movement... Several missiles were fired towards the central region.

"The hostile missiles were immediately dealt with, and were successfully confronted, none was able to reach its target."

In mid-February, Israeli strikes on Damascus airport killed seven Syrian and Iranian fighters, according to the Observatory.

Syrian air defence responded to Israeli missiles targeting the south and centre of the country, state media said early Thursday. "Our air defence confronted an Israeli missile attack in the southwest of Quneitra province" in the south and also in a central region, SANA news agency said.

Syrian air defence responded to Israeli missiles targeting the south and centre of the country, state media said early Thursday. "Our air defence confronted an Israeli missile attack in the southwest of Quneitra province" in the south and also in a central region, SANA news agency said. The short statement released after midnight did not provide details on the targets. Quneitra province is near the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Also read: Putin, Erdogan seek to ease Syria tensions at high-stakes talks The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes targeted two military airports in central Homs province and two areas in Quneitra province where pro-Damascus allies of Lebanese group Hezbollah are present. But the Britain-based war monitor said there were no immediate reports of a death or any material damage. Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria, mainly targeting government troops as well as allied Iranian forces and fighters from Hezbollah. It is rare for the Jewish state to claim such strikes directly. Also see: India can play active role in Israel-Palestine peace process, says UN Committee on Palestine SANA quoted a military source saying that at 12.30 am on Thursday (2230 GMT Wednesday) "our air defence observed Israeli warplane movement... Several missiles were fired towards the central region. "The hostile missiles were immediately dealt with, and were successfully confronted, none was able to reach its target." In mid-February, Israeli strikes on Damascus airport killed seven Syrian and Iranian fighters, according to the Observatory.

Syrian air defence responds to 'Israeli missiles': Report

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday he had rejected an EU offer of an additional one billion euros to help deal with the roughly four million refugees it houses.

Turkey rejected $1.1B aid from EU: Erdogan

Tensions are running very high between Turkey and Russia-backed Syria. Syrian government forces are intensifying attacks on a Turkey-backed rebel stronghold.

The prospect of an all-out war leaves millions of Syrian civilians trapped in the middle. Two nights ago, thousands of Syrian refugees were pushing against the fence at the Greek border.

The Greek police deployed its anti-riot squad and fired tear gas against the refugees, including women and children, who were all stuck in the no man's land.

So, once the land routes were shut, they set sail in dinghies to the Greek islands. But, a Syrian boy has died after one of the rubber dinghies capsized. He is the first casualty of a fresh wave of migration.

It brings back haunting memories of the Syrian toddler, whose dead body washed up on a Turkish beach in 2015. The refugees can't return to their homes anytime soon

Turkey and Syria are locked in a bitter tit-for-tat conflict in the North-Eastern Syrian province of Idlib.

Amid heavy Russian bombardment, clashes are continuing between Syrian government forces and armed rebel groups in the province. Street battles in the key town of Saracen continue - neither side is able to hold the city.

But, Bashar al-Assad has pledged to 'confront the flagrant Turkish aggression'. It all began when the forces loyal to the Syrian government attacked the last rebel stronghold in Idlib.&nbsp;

Turkey immediately intervened for two reasons - first, the Syrian offensive triggered the largest single wave of displacement in the nine-year war.&nbsp;

It sent 9,50,000 Syrian refugees towards the Turkish border. Turkey already hosts 4.1 million refugees, including 3.7 million Syrians. So, it said it can't allow any more refugees to enter its borders.

Second, Turkey backs some rebel groups in Syria, so it sent tanks and troops as reinforcement to counter the Syrian offensive.&nbsp;

Idlib was designated a de-escalation&nbsp;zone in a 2018 agreement between Turkey and Russia, who back opposing sides and Ankara has repeatedly demanded that al-Assad's forces withdraw behind a line determined by Turkey.

Although Turkey showed restraint initially, it vowed revenge when Turkish soldiers were killed in a Syrian bombardment. In a recent attack, Turkey lost 34 soldiers to an airstrike, allegedly carried out by Syria. This provoked President Erdogan to threaten Russia and Syria to fall behind the line or face a ruthless offensive.

This raises the risk of direct military confrontation between Turkey and Russia. The prospect of an all-out war leaves millions of Syrian civilians trapped in the middle. The movement of migrants to the West could continue if the situation in Idlib deteriorates further.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the risk of even greater escalation grows by the hour, and as always, civilians are paying the gravest price.

Tensions are running very high between Turkey and Russia-backed Syria. Syrian government forces are intensifying attacks on a Turkey-backed rebel stronghold. The prospect of an all-out war leaves millions of Syrian civilians trapped in the middle.

Tensions are running very high between Turkey and Russia-backed Syria. Syrian government forces are intensifying attacks on a Turkey-backed rebel stronghold. The prospect of an all-out war leaves millions of Syrian civilians trapped in the middle. Two nights ago, thousands of Syrian refugees were pushing against the fence at the Greek border. The Greek police deployed its anti-riot squad and fired tear gas against the refugees, including women and children, who were all stuck in the no man's land. So, once the land routes were shut, they set sail in dinghies to the Greek islands. But, a Syrian boy has died after one of the rubber dinghies capsized. He is the first casualty of a fresh wave of migration. It brings back haunting memories of the Syrian toddler, whose dead body washed up on a Turkish beach in 2015. The refugees can't return to their homes anytime soon Turkey and Syria are locked in a bitter tit-for-tat conflict in the North-Eastern Syrian province of Idlib. Amid heavy Russian bombardment, clashes are continuing between Syrian government forces and armed rebel groups in the province. Street battles in the key town of Saracen continue - neither side is able to hold the city. But, Bashar al-Assad has pledged to 'confront the flagrant Turkish aggression'. It all began when the forces loyal to the Syrian government attacked the last rebel stronghold in Idlib. Turkey immediately intervened for two reasons - first, the Syrian offensive triggered the largest single wave of displacement in the nine-year war. It sent 9,50,000 Syrian refugees towards the Turkish border. Turkey already hosts 4.1 million refugees, including 3.7 million Syrians. So, it said it can't allow any more refugees to enter its borders. Second, Turkey backs some rebel groups in Syria, so it sent tanks and troops as reinforcement to counter the Syrian offensive. Idlib was designated a de-escalation zone in a 2018 agreement between Turkey and Russia, who back opposing sides and Ankara has repeatedly demanded that al-Assad's forces withdraw behind a line determined by Turkey. Although Turkey showed restraint initially, it vowed revenge when Turkish soldiers were killed in a Syrian bombardment. In a recent attack, Turkey lost 34 soldiers to an airstrike, allegedly carried out by Syria. This provoked President Erdogan to threaten Russia and Syria to fall behind the line or face a ruthless offensive. This raises the risk of direct military confrontation between Turkey and Russia. The prospect of an all-out war leaves millions of Syrian civilians trapped in the middle. The movement of migrants to the West could continue if the situation in Idlib deteriorates further. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the risk of even greater escalation grows by the hour, and as always, civilians are paying the gravest price.

Civilians pay the gravest price as war in Syria escalates

The Kremlin on Tuesday rejected allegations by the United Nations that Russia may have committed war crimes in Syria last year, saying the United Nations&nbsp;investigators are in no position to know what is happening on the ground.

Also read: Syria: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syria-white-helmets-accuse-russia-of-war-crimes-in-aleppo-10206">White Helmets accuse Russia of 'war crimes' in Aleppo</a>

"We strongly reject these claims," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. "It's obvious that one committee can not have reliable information about what is happening on the ground."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-withdraws-from-international-criminal-court-8921">Russia withdraws from International Criminal Court</a>

A report by a UN&nbsp;commission found that Russia,&nbsp;the Syrian government's main ally against rebels and militants, conducted airstrikes on a popular market and a camp for displaced people that killed dozens of civilians in July and August.

The Kremlin on Tuesday rejected allegations by the United Nations that Russia may have committed war crimes in Syria last year, saying the United Nations investigators are in no position to know what is happening on the ground.

The Kremlin on Tuesday rejected allegations by the United Nations that Russia may have committed war crimes in Syria last year, saying the United Nations investigators are in no position to know what is happening on the ground. Also read: Syria: White Helmets accuse Russia of 'war crimes' in Aleppo "We strongly reject these claims," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. "It's obvious that one committee can not have reliable information about what is happening on the ground." Also read: Russia withdraws from International Criminal Court A report by a UN commission found that Russia, the Syrian government's main ally against rebels and militants, conducted airstrikes on a popular market and a camp for displaced people that killed dozens of civilians in July and August.

Kremlin 'strongly rejects' UN allegations that Russia committed war crimes in Syria in 2019

A Turkish fighter jet downed a Syrian regime&nbsp;warplane over the northwestern Idlib province Tuesday, the&nbsp;Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war&nbsp;monitor said, in the third such downing in three days.

Turkey on Sunday confirmed it had launched a military operation against Russia-backed regime forces in the border region, where Ankara supports some rebel groups.

Syrian state news agency SANA said one of its planes was "targeted" after two others were shot down on Sunday.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkish-forces-down-syrian-planes-over-idlib-report-283587">Turkish forces down Syrian planes over Idlib: Report</a>

Turkey confirmed the downing of an L-39&nbsp;jet.

"As part of the Spring Shield operation that is successfully continuing, an L-39 plane belonging to the regime has been downed," the Turkish defence ministry said.

The Observatory said the regime plane was brought down by a Turkish F-16 and crashed to the ground in a regime-held area south of the embattled rebel bastion.

Also see: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-european-union-envoy-heads-to-turkey-for-syrian-refugee-talks-283921">Top European Union envoy heads to Turkey for Syrian refugee talks</a>

The fate of the crew was not immediately clear, the Britain-based Observatory said.

Regime forces have since December been battling to retake the last major opposition bastion of Idlib from rebels and jihadists linked to Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate.

The Turkish operation came after an airstrike on Thursday blamed on Damascus killed 34 Turkish soldiers in the region.

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The Observatory says 93 regime soldiers have been killed in Turkish bombardment since Friday along with 10 fighters of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah and four pro-Iranian fighters.

On Sunday, Damascus claimed to have brought down three Turkish drones over the region.

The&nbsp;Syrian conflict has killed more than 380,000 people since it began in 2011 and displaced millions.

A Turkish fighter jet downed a Syrian regime warplane over the northwestern Idlib province Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said, in the third such downing in three days.

A Turkish fighter jet downed a Syrian regime warplane over the northwestern Idlib province Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said, in the third such downing in three days. Turkey on Sunday confirmed it had launched a military operation against Russia-backed regime forces in the border region, where Ankara supports some rebel groups. Syrian state news agency SANA said one of its planes was "targeted" after two others were shot down on Sunday. Also read: Turkish forces down Syrian planes over Idlib: Report Turkey confirmed the downing of an L-39 jet. "As part of the Spring Shield operation that is successfully continuing, an L-39 plane belonging to the regime has been downed," the Turkish defence ministry said. The Observatory said the regime plane was brought down by a Turkish F-16 and crashed to the ground in a regime-held area south of the embattled rebel bastion. Also see: Top European Union envoy heads to Turkey for Syrian refugee talks The fate of the crew was not immediately clear, the Britain-based Observatory said. Regime forces have since December been battling to retake the last major opposition bastion of Idlib from rebels and jihadists linked to Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate. The Turkish operation came after an airstrike on Thursday blamed on Damascus killed 34 Turkish soldiers in the region. Watch: × The Observatory says 93 regime soldiers have been killed in Turkish bombardment since Friday along with 10 fighters of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah and four pro-Iranian fighters. On Sunday, Damascus claimed to have brought down three Turkish drones over the region. The Syrian conflict has killed more than 380,000 people since it began in 2011 and displaced millions.

Turkey fighter jet downs Syrian warplane over Idlib: Monitor

The EU's top diplomat and its crisis-management chief set off for Turkey on Tuesday after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned he could allow millions of refugees to head for Europe.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-says-pursuing-military-operation-against-syrian-regime-283560">Turkey says pursuing military operation against Syrian regime</a>

EU High Representative Josep Borrell and Commissioner&nbsp;Janez Lenarcic will spend two days in the country for "high-level" meetings with Turkish officials on the Syrian crisis and the row about refugees and migrants.

Watch: Syria shuts down air space over Idlib

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"They will hold talks on the ongoing escalation in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib and the humanitarian consequences for the civilian population on the ground, as well as the situation of Syrian refugees in Turkey," Borrell's office said.

"During their visit to Ankara, they will meet with high-level interlocutors of the Turkish authorities."

After the talks in Ankara, Borrell will attend an EU foreign ministers meeting in Zagreb on March 5 and 6, and Lenarcic will visit refugee centres in Turkey's southeastern province of Gaziantep.

The visit comes amid intense fighting in the Syrian city of Idlib between pro-government forces and Turkish-backed rebels, and after Erdogan escalated the refugee dispute with Brussels.&nbsp;

Turkey has given a green light to refugees and migrants on its territory, many of them displaced Syrians, to leave for the European Union, in defiance of a 2016 deal to keep them.

On Monday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel described Turkey's move as "unacceptable" and EU migration commissioner Margaritis Schinas said nobody could "blackmail or intimidate the EU".

The EU's top diplomat and its crisis-management chief set off for Turkey on Tuesday after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned he could allow millions of refugees to head for Europe.

The EU's top diplomat and its crisis-management chief set off for Turkey on Tuesday after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned he could allow millions of refugees to head for Europe. Also read: Turkey says pursuing military operation against Syrian regime EU High Representative Josep Borrell and Commissioner Janez Lenarcic will spend two days in the country for "high-level" meetings with Turkish officials on the Syrian crisis and the row about refugees and migrants. Watch: Syria shuts down air space over Idlib "They will hold talks on the ongoing escalation in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib and the humanitarian consequences for the civilian population on the ground, as well as the situation of Syrian refugees in Turkey," Borrell's office said. "During their visit to Ankara, they will meet with high-level interlocutors of the Turkish authorities." After the talks in Ankara, Borrell will attend an EU foreign ministers meeting in Zagreb on March 5 and 6, and Lenarcic will visit refugee centres in Turkey's southeastern province of Gaziantep. The visit comes amid intense fighting in the Syrian city of Idlib between pro-government forces and Turkish-backed rebels, and after Erdogan escalated the refugee dispute with Brussels. Turkey has given a green light to refugees and migrants on its territory, many of them displaced Syrians, to leave for the European Union, in defiance of a 2016 deal to keep them. On Monday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel described Turkey's move as "unacceptable" and EU migration commissioner Margaritis Schinas said nobody could "blackmail or intimidate the EU".

Top European Union envoy heads to Turkey for Syrian refugee talks

The Syrian government has closed airspace over northwest Idlib amid conflicting reports of a plane shot down over the region.

Syria shuts down air space over Idlib

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Russia on Thursday for a summit with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to discuss the mounting tensions in Syria, his office said Monday.&nbsp;

"The president is due to pay a one-day visit to Russia on March 5," the Turkish presidency said in a statement.&nbsp;

Turkey confirmed on Sunday that it had launched a full military operation against Russian-backed Syrian forces following increasing clashes in the last rebel stronghold of Idlib.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkish-drones-kill-19-syrian-government-soldiers-as-tensions-soar-283645">Turkish drones kill 19 Syrian government soldiers as tensions soar</a>

Ankara, which backs Islamist fighters in the province, killed 19 Syrian soldiers in drone strikes on Sunday and downed two regime planes.&nbsp;

But it remains determined to avoid direct clashes with Moscow, with which it shares significant defense and trade ties.

Despite being on opposing sides of the conflict, Turkey and Russia have coordinated closely in the past.&nbsp;

Also see: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/refugees-stream-towards-greece-after-turkey-opens-gates-283696">Refugees stream towards Greece after Turkey opens gates</a>

They secured a deal in Sochi in 2018 that led to Turkey establishing 12 military observation posts in Idlib to prevent a Syrian offensive and a fresh flood of refugees into Turkish territory.&nbsp;

But Syria and Russia look increasingly determined to regain full control of the area and an offensive launched in December has displaced close to a million civilians, and seen increasing clashes between Turkish and Syrian forces.&nbsp;

The latest escalation followed the killing of 34 Turkish soldiers last week in an airstrike blamed on Damascus.

&nbsp;

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Russia on Thursday for a summit with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to discuss the mounting tensions in Syria, his office said Monday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Russia on Thursday for a summit with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to discuss the mounting tensions in Syria, his office said Monday. "The president is due to pay a one-day visit to Russia on March 5," the Turkish presidency said in a statement. Turkey confirmed on Sunday that it had launched a full military operation against Russian-backed Syrian forces following increasing clashes in the last rebel stronghold of Idlib. Also read: Turkish drones kill 19 Syrian government soldiers as tensions soar Ankara, which backs Islamist fighters in the province, killed 19 Syrian soldiers in drone strikes on Sunday and downed two regime planes. But it remains determined to avoid direct clashes with Moscow, with which it shares significant defense and trade ties. Despite being on opposing sides of the conflict, Turkey and Russia have coordinated closely in the past. Also see: Refugees stream towards Greece after Turkey opens gates They secured a deal in Sochi in 2018 that led to Turkey establishing 12 military observation posts in Idlib to prevent a Syrian offensive and a fresh flood of refugees into Turkish territory. But Syria and Russia look increasingly determined to regain full control of the area and an offensive launched in December has displaced close to a million civilians, and seen increasing clashes between Turkish and Syrian forces. The latest escalation followed the killing of 34 Turkish soldiers last week in an airstrike blamed on Damascus.

Turkish President Erdogan to meet Putin in Russia for Syria talks: Turkish presidency

The tensions continue to escalate in West Asia as Tukey and Syria have intensified their operations in the Idlib province. In the latest development, their multiple airstrikes by Turkey have claimed the lives of at least about 19 Syrian soldiers. Watch report:

Syrian civil war: Turkish airstrikes kill 19 Syrian soldiers

As the war rages on in Northern Syria, Europe is suffering from yet another refugee crisis. The situation at the greek border remains uncertain. Hundreds of Syrian refugees have been attempting to cross over after Turkey announced that it would allow passage into Europe. Greece has denied taking in the migrants and has warned of strong action if people try to cross over illegally.

Greek police fire tear gas at refugees, trying to strop them from entering illegally

Turkey shot down two Syrian warplanes on Sunday in an escalating offensive against the Damascus regime as Ankara pressured Europe over the conflict by opening its border for migrants to cross into the continent.

Following weeks of violence in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-says-pursuing-military-operation-against-syrian-regime-283560">Turkey confirmed a full military operation against Russian-backed Syrian forces</a> after dozens of Turkish soldiers were killed last week in an air strike blamed on Damascus.

Tensions have intensified between Russia and Turkey -- who back opposing forces in the Syria's civil war -- but Ankara has insisted it does not want to clash directly with Moscow.

"One anti-aircraft system that shot down one of our armed drones and two other anti-aircraft systems have been destroyed, and two SU-24 regime planes that were attacking our aircraft have been downed," Turkey's defence ministry said in a statement.

Syrian state media said Turkish forces "targeted" two of its planes over Idlib. A rebel group and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, both said the planes had been downed.

The situation in rebel-held Idlib was already volatile as the regime supported by Russian air power pressed an assault on the region in a bid to retake the last opposition enclave in a nine-year civil war.

The confrontation between the Russia-backed Syrian forces and NATO-member Turkey, which supports Syrian rebels, has prompted worries over a wider conflict and a migrant crisis in Europe similar to 2015.&nbsp;

Migrant numbers have already surged along the rugged frontier after Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, seeking to pressure the EU over Syria, said the country had "opened the doors" to Europe.

Greece said Sunday it has blocked nearly 10,000 migrants at its border with Turkey.

As migrant boats continued to land on Greek islands, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar announced "operation 'Spring Shield'" for the first time, adding it "successfully continues" after the attack last week killed 34 Turkish troops.

Turkish forces hit Syrian regime positions after Erdogan warned Damascus would "pay a price" for the air strike.

Under a 2018 deal with Russia meant to bring calm to Idlib, Turkey has 12 observation posts in Syria -- but several have come under fire from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

Turkey wants the international community to establish a no-fly zone over Idlib, where Islamist fighters backed by Ankara pose the biggest obstacle to Damascus seizing back control over all of Syria.

SANA Syrian state media reported the regime shot down a Turkish drone near the town of Saraqeb, publishing footage of an aircraft tumbling from the sky in flames. Those images could not be immediately confirmed.

But Turkish defence ministry confirmed one of its drones was shot down.

Moscow meeting?

Earlier on Sunday, Istanbul police detained the editor-in-chief of the Turkish version of Russia's Sputnik website as its offices were being searched in Istanbul.

Three of its journalists were also taken to a courthouse in Ankara for questioning, likely related to a Sputnik article in English claiming Turkey's Hatay province was "stolen" from Syria. Colonial power France ceded the southern region to Turkey in 1938.

The news website later said they had been released.

Turkish media reported on Sunday that Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin would meet in Moscow on March 5. They already spoke by telephone last week when both expressed "concern" over the escalation.

The Russian and Turkish foreign ministers also spoke by telephone on Sunday, Moscow's ministry said, to discuss preparations for the meeting between the two leaders, and the safety of the Sputnik journalists.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said he "hoped" the meeting would be on Thursday or Friday.

"It will undoubtedly be a difficult meeting, but the leaders confirmed their wish to resolve the situation in Idlib. It's important," Peskov said on Sunday.

Protecting borders

Some 13,000 migrants have amassed at the Turkey-Greece border, including families with young children who spent the night in the cold, the International Organization for Migration said.&nbsp;

An estimated additional 2,000 migrants arrived at the Pazarkule border gate Sunday, including Afghans, Syrians and Iraqis, according to an AFP reporter.&nbsp;

But as the crowds rushed to enter Europe, Greek police and soldiers blocked 9,972 "illegal entrances" from entering the northeastern Evros region in the past 24 hours, a Greek government source said.&nbsp;

The UN refugee agency spokesman Babar Baloch called for "calm and easing of tensions on the border," as he urged countries to "refrain from the use of excessive and disproportionate force".

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday said the EU was watching "with concern" and stood ready to deploy its Frontex border guard agency.

The developments recalled events in 2015 when over a million migrants fled to Europe, mainly via Greece in what became the continent's worst refugee crisis since the Second World War.

The EU's commissioner for migration, Margaritis Schinas, tweeted Sunday he had requested an extraordinary meeting of EU interior ministers to discuss the situation.

Erdogan said Turkey, home to some 3.6 million refugees, did not plan to close the borders because "the (EU) should keep its promises".

He was referring to the 2016 deal with Brussels to stop the flow of refugees in exchange for billions of euros.

burs-raz/

Turkey shot down two Syrian warplanes on Sunday in an escalating offensive against the Damascus regime as Ankara pressured Europe over the conflict by opening its border for migrants to cross into the continent.

Turkey shot down two Syrian warplanes on Sunday in an escalating offensive against the Damascus regime as Ankara pressured Europe over the conflict by opening its border for migrants to cross into the continent. Following weeks of violence in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, Turkey confirmed a full military operation against Russian-backed Syrian forces after dozens of Turkish soldiers were killed last week in an air strike blamed on Damascus. Tensions have intensified between Russia and Turkey -- who back opposing forces in the Syria's civil war -- but Ankara has insisted it does not want to clash directly with Moscow. "One anti-aircraft system that shot down one of our armed drones and two other anti-aircraft systems have been destroyed, and two SU-24 regime planes that were attacking our aircraft have been downed," Turkey's defence ministry said in a statement. Syrian state media said Turkish forces "targeted" two of its planes over Idlib. A rebel group and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, both said the planes had been downed. The situation in rebel-held Idlib was already volatile as the regime supported by Russian air power pressed an assault on the region in a bid to retake the last opposition enclave in a nine-year civil war. The confrontation between the Russia-backed Syrian forces and NATO-member Turkey, which supports Syrian rebels, has prompted worries over a wider conflict and a migrant crisis in Europe similar to 2015. Migrant numbers have already surged along the rugged frontier after Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, seeking to pressure the EU over Syria, said the country had "opened the doors" to Europe. Greece said Sunday it has blocked nearly 10,000 migrants at its border with Turkey. As migrant boats continued to land on Greek islands, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar announced "operation 'Spring Shield'" for the first time, adding it "successfully continues" after the attack last week killed 34 Turkish troops. Turkish forces hit Syrian regime positions after Erdogan warned Damascus would "pay a price" for the air strike. Under a 2018 deal with Russia meant to bring calm to Idlib, Turkey has 12 observation posts in Syria -- but several have come under fire from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces. Turkey wants the international community to establish a no-fly zone over Idlib, where Islamist fighters backed by Ankara pose the biggest obstacle to Damascus seizing back control over all of Syria. SANA Syrian state media reported the regime shot down a Turkish drone near the town of Saraqeb, publishing footage of an aircraft tumbling from the sky in flames. Those images could not be immediately confirmed. But Turkish defence ministry confirmed one of its drones was shot down. Moscow meeting? Earlier on Sunday, Istanbul police detained the editor-in-chief of the Turkish version of Russia's Sputnik website as its offices were being searched in Istanbul. Three of its journalists were also taken to a courthouse in Ankara for questioning, likely related to a Sputnik article in English claiming Turkey's Hatay province was "stolen" from Syria. Colonial power France ceded the southern region to Turkey in 1938. The news website later said they had been released. Turkish media reported on Sunday that Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin would meet in Moscow on March 5. They already spoke by telephone last week when both expressed "concern" over the escalation. The Russian and Turkish foreign ministers also spoke by telephone on Sunday, Moscow's ministry said, to discuss preparations for the meeting between the two leaders, and the safety of the Sputnik journalists. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said he "hoped" the meeting would be on Thursday or Friday. "It will undoubtedly be a difficult meeting, but the leaders confirmed their wish to resolve the situation in Idlib. It's important," Peskov said on Sunday. Protecting borders Some 13,000 migrants have amassed at the Turkey-Greece border, including families with young children who spent the night in the cold, the International Organization for Migration said. An estimated additional 2,000 migrants arrived at the Pazarkule border gate Sunday, including Afghans, Syrians and Iraqis, according to an AFP reporter. But as the crowds rushed to enter Europe, Greek police and soldiers blocked 9,972 "illegal entrances" from entering the northeastern Evros region in the past 24 hours, a Greek government source said. The UN refugee agency spokesman Babar Baloch called for "calm and easing of tensions on the border," as he urged countries to "refrain from the use of excessive and disproportionate force". European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday said the EU was watching "with concern" and stood ready to deploy its Frontex border guard agency. The developments recalled events in 2015 when over a million migrants fled to Europe, mainly via Greece in what became the continent's worst refugee crisis since the Second World War. The EU's commissioner for migration, Margaritis Schinas, tweeted Sunday he had requested an extraordinary meeting of EU interior ministers to discuss the situation. Erdogan said Turkey, home to some 3.6 million refugees, did not plan to close the borders because "the (EU) should keep its promises". He was referring to the 2016 deal with Brussels to stop the flow of refugees in exchange for billions of euros. burs-raz/

Turkey shoots down two Syria warplanes in escalating offensive

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned Russia to "get out of our way" in northern Syria as his forces fight President Bashar Al-Assad's regime.

Turkey warns Russia to 'get out of our way' in northern Syria

Turkey said Sunday it was continuing a military operation against the Russian-backed Syrian regime in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/33-turkish-soldiers-killed-in-airstrike-by-syrian-regime-forces-in-idlib-283217">Syria's northwestern Idlib region</a> but insisted it did not wish to clash with Moscow.

Though Turkey has reported striking targets in Syria since dozens of its troops were killed there Thursday, it was the first confirmation of a full and continuing operation.

"Following the heinous attack on February 27 in Idlib, operation 'Spring Shield' successfully continues," Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said in a televised speech.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkeys-erdogan-asks-russias-putin-to-step-aside-in-syria-283496"> Turkey's Erdogan asks Russia's Putin to step aside in Syria</a>

"We don't have the desire or intention to clash with Russia," the minister added. Thirty-four Turkish troops have been killed in Syria since Thursday.

"Our intention is to stop the regime's massacres, and prevent... migration," he said.

"We expect Russia to stop the regime's attacks and to use their influence to ensure the regime withdraws to the borders of the Sochi agreement."

Turkey has 12 observation posts established in rebel-held Idlib following a 2018 deal between Ankara and Moscow signed in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/laughing-syrian-girl-from-viral-video-begins-new-life-in-turkey-283378">Laughing Syrian girl from viral video begins new life in Turkey</a>

But the regime recently has pressed ahead with an assault, killing hundreds of civilians and forcing nearly a million to flee from their homes in the region.

Rebel-supporter Turkey and Damascus ally Russia previously worked closely to prevent a regime offensive in Idlib despite being on opposing sides of the nine-year war.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last month warned Damascus to get behind the agreed borders otherwise Ankara would use military force to push the regime back.

Akar said Turkish forces had destroyed dozens of tanks, helicopters and howitzers, adding 2,212 regime troops had been "neutralised".

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, 26 Syrian soldiers were killed in Turkish drone strikes on Saturday.

Erdogan on Saturday called on Russia to "get out of our way" in Idlib and leave Turkey "face to face with the regime" in Idlib.

The latest developments has strained relations between Ankara and Moscow but Erdogan will likely meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks on Thursday or Friday, according to the Kremlin.

Turkey said Sunday it was continuing a military operation against the Russian-backed Syrian regime in Syria's northwestern Idlib region but insisted it did not wish to clash with Moscow.

Turkey said Sunday it was continuing a military operation against the Russian-backed Syrian regime in Syria's northwestern Idlib region but insisted it did not wish to clash with Moscow. Though Turkey has reported striking targets in Syria since dozens of its troops were killed there Thursday, it was the first confirmation of a full and continuing operation. "Following the heinous attack on February 27 in Idlib, operation 'Spring Shield' successfully continues," Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said in a televised speech. Also read: Turkey's Erdogan asks Russia's Putin to step aside in Syria "We don't have the desire or intention to clash with Russia," the minister added. Thirty-four Turkish troops have been killed in Syria since Thursday. "Our intention is to stop the regime's massacres, and prevent... migration," he said. "We expect Russia to stop the regime's attacks and to use their influence to ensure the regime withdraws to the borders of the Sochi agreement." Turkey has 12 observation posts established in rebel-held Idlib following a 2018 deal between Ankara and Moscow signed in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Also read: Laughing Syrian girl from viral video begins new life in Turkey But the regime recently has pressed ahead with an assault, killing hundreds of civilians and forcing nearly a million to flee from their homes in the region. Rebel-supporter Turkey and Damascus ally Russia previously worked closely to prevent a regime offensive in Idlib despite being on opposing sides of the nine-year war. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last month warned Damascus to get behind the agreed borders otherwise Ankara would use military force to push the regime back. Akar said Turkish forces had destroyed dozens of tanks, helicopters and howitzers, adding 2,212 regime troops had been "neutralised". According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, 26 Syrian soldiers were killed in Turkish drone strikes on Saturday. Erdogan on Saturday called on Russia to "get out of our way" in Idlib and leave Turkey "face to face with the regime" in Idlib. The latest developments has strained relations between Ankara and Moscow but Erdogan will likely meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks on Thursday or Friday, according to the Kremlin.

Turkey says pursuing military operation against Syrian regime

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