Russia warns Erdogan against 'provocations' in northern Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues to move ahead with his plan to spread chaos and destruction in Syria in preparation for occupying the northern part of the Arab state.

This is why the Turkish leader is keen on presenting all types of support to the militants of Tahrir al-Sham who control the northern Syrian city of Idlib.

International reports refer, meanwhile, to the crimes this terrorist organization and others commit against innocent Syrians with directives from Erdogan.

Quick deterioration

The Russian Foreign Ministry warned on January 23 that conditions in the de-escalation zone in northern Syria were deteriorating quickly. Such a warning coincided with a visit by Erdogan to Russian capital Moscow.

The spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova told Sky News Arabia that the de-escalation zone is now fully controlled by Tahrir al-Sham.

She warned against maintaining what she described as "provocations" that can endanger civilians, Russian military personnel and the Hmeimim Air Base.

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in Moscow with Erdogan. The talks focused on a wide-range of regional and international issues, most importantly, the conflict in Syria.

According to Russian media, Putin said continual consultations with the Turkish president were fruitful.

Slap on Erdogan's face

Some observers said Putin's statement do not reflect the official Russian position, one that opposes Turkish plans in Syria.

The Russian Foreign Ministry called before the meeting between the two leaders for dealing with the ramifications of Tahrir al-Sham's control of Idlib.

Apart from most of Idlib, Tahrir al-Sham also controls nearby areas. Turkish posts are also set up in the same areas, in the light of a truce between Ankara and Mosque that establishes a demilitarized zone, covering between 15 and 20 kilometers.

Erdogan's plans in Syria changed soon after US President Donald Trump declared his unilateral pullout plan from Syria in December last year.

The Turkish ruler now wants to decimate the Turkish minority in northern Syria and occupy the area.

The Kurds are trying to encourage the Russians to mediate between them and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad so that the Syrian army can fill in the vacuum that will be left behind by American troops.

Senior Turkish Democratic Forces commander Ridour Khalil said communication was inevitable with the Syrian government because the areas controlled by the Kurds in northern Syria were Syrian territories after all.