国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Assads Idlib offensive litmus test on Turkeys alliance with Iran, Russia_时事

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Assads Idlib offensive litmus test on Turkeys alliance with Iran, Russia

The official also pointed at the fact that fresh conflict in northern Syria could trigger more displacement on its southern border. Ankara considers the regime offensive, supported by Iran-backed militias and Russian air power, aims to recover more territory from the rebels.

For the Russian part, Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces run in Hmeymim base in Syria repelled a series of drone attacks Saturday. The drones were sent from Idlib, an area controlled by so-called "moderate opposition" units, the Russian defence ministry's official newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda said Wednesday.

The ministry has written to the chiefs of the Turkish army and intelligence service to insist that the terms of a cease-fire are upheld, the newspaper said.

Russia will continue constructive cooperation with Turkey for Syrian course, but it will not give up fighting against terrorist groups such as al-Nusra, Russia's Izvestiya newspaper reported Thursday quoting anonymous Russian officials.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, spearheaded by the former al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria that was known as the al-Nusra Front, is mainly dominating in Idlib.

On Thursday, Moscow attempted to ease the strain with Ankara as President Vladimir Putin said the attack at Russian air base was a provocation, aimed at undermining Russia's relations with its partners, including Turkey.

"Firstly, these are provocations aimed at the collapse of the earlier reached agreements. Secondly, that is also an attempt to destroy our relations with partners, Turkey and Iran. We clearly understand that, and therefore we will show solidarity," Russian media quoted Putin as saying.