Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said yesterday that he supports Kurdish fighters fighting an unprovoked attack by Ankara in northeastern Syria, following an agreement that began deploying his army in the Kurdish autonomous areas. Assad's remarks coincided with the start of a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi, which is expected to determine the course of the situation in northern Syria in the coming period.
In detail, Assad said during his visit to the front lines in the province of Idlib (northwest): «We are ready to support any group that is popular resistance against Turkish aggression».
"Of course, this is not a political decision, we are not taking any political decision now, this is a constitutional duty and this is a national duty we do not need to discuss."
He said the Idlib battle was the "basis" for resolving the war that has been going on in his country for more than eight years.
Assad said, according to statements published by the presidency accounts on social networking sites, during his visit to the town of Hbeit, south of Idlib province: «We were and still say that the battle of Idlib is the basis for resolving chaos and terrorism in all areas of Syria».
The Syrian presidency's accounts posted pictures of the Syrian president surrounded by military personnel, and maps were placed behind them.
"All areas in Syria have the same importance, but what governs priorities is the military situation on the ground," Assad said.
This is the first visit of the Syrian president to the region since the outbreak of the crisis in Syria, in mid-2011. Government forces regained control of the town of Hubeit, southwest of the city of Khan Sheikhoun, in mid-August.
Assad's visit to the region is an indication of the possibility of starting a military operation by the government forces to regain control of the Hama-Aleppo road, after the cessation of fighting on these axes since the beginning of last August.
Assad's remarks come as his forces continue to deploy in Kurdish-controlled areas, northeast of Syria, to support the SDF in its response to the Turkish aggression on the region since the ninth of October.
Assad's comments coincided with the start of a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Sochi.
Erdogan said at the beginning of the meeting: «I believe that this meeting will be in the interest of the region, which is going through difficult days». Erdogan described the meeting as a very important opportunity.
For his part, Putin said: "The situation in the region is very difficult, and we see and understand everything, and I think that our meeting today is in place, and our consultations are much needed."
Meanwhile, Interfax news agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Seromolotov as saying that the Turkish incursion into northern Syria violated the territorial integrity and integrity of Syria.
The Russian official said only Russian and Iranian forces are legally entitled to be in Syria.
The agency also said he expected the meeting of Putin and Erdogan to clarify the side that controls the oil-rich areas in northeastern Syria.
The Kremlin plans to study the proposal of German Defense Minister Angrett Kramp-Karnbaur on the establishment of an international protection zone in the border area between Syria and Turkey.
The news agency Interfax quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that it was a new initiative, adding that there is no specific position towards it so far, and said: "We are studying it."
Crump-Karnbaur has proposed to involve Russia and Turkey in the possible establishment of this region.
Syrian government forces continued their deployment in Kurdish-controlled areas yesterday.
According to the state news agency (SANA) that army units entered the village of Al-Kozleya, west of Tal Tamr in the northwest countryside of the province of Hasaka.
And ended yesterday, a deadline set by Ankara for the Kurdish fighters in order to complete their withdrawal from the buffer zone under an agreement extracted by Washington.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "If the promises made by the Americans are not respected, the process will resume with greater determination." "With the promises they made to Turkey."