Idlib: Continuous escalation, France calls on Turkey and Russia for a permanent cease-fire

The military escalation continues in Idlib, northern Syria, while clashes between the opposition forces and the regime forces have continued, Turkish officials are following developments in the situation on the southern borders of their country, amid French calls for Ankara and Moscow to a permanent cease-fire.

Al-Jazeera correspondent said that the opposition forces took control of the towns of Kafr Owaid and Sfouin, in addition to seven other villages in the southern Idlib countryside after clashes described as violent.

The opposition added that it had killed dozens of soldiers and destroyed a number of mechanisms, as well as countering attempts by the regime forces to advance in southern Saraqib.

The Al-Jazeera correspondent also reported that nine gunmen from the Lebanese Hezbollah movement were killed, and several others were wounded in the battles of Idlib countryside between the Syrian regime forces and Hezbollah on the one hand, and the Syrian opposition forces supported by the Turkish forces on the other hand.

Pro-regime news websites mourned a number of regime officers, who said they were killed in a Turkish bombardment in Aleppo countryside, including an officer with the rank of a major general in the Republican Guard, two deans and a colonel.

Lose tension
This comes as Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and high-ranking military leaders visited the forces stationed on the border with Syria.

Akar was briefed on the latest information on the progress of Turkish forces' operations in Syria. The Turkish Minister of Defense and army leaders moved to the tactical headquarters of the second army in charge of managing operations in Idlib Governorate, where he was briefed about the ground and air bombing operations and the activities of the maneuvering elements that took place on Saturday.

Idlib is witnessing an unprecedented tension due to the escalation of the regime forces and its supporters and their seizure of cities and villages within the de-escalation zone, which resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians towards the Syrian-Turkish border.

On Thursday, Turkey announced the killing of 34 soldiers as a result of an attack by the Syrian regime forces on its locations in Idlib.

Actions and invitations
In a move to reduce tension, a statement of the French presidency said that President Emmanuel Macron called his Russian and Turkish counterparts the need for a permanent ceasefire in northern Syria, in accordance with the commitment of both parties at the Quartet Summit held in the fall of 2018.

The French presidency added that Macron called on Russia to assume its responsibilities as a permanent member of the Security Council, respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians.

He expressed France's readiness to contribute to reducing tension in order to start again a political process in the region, indicating that his country will move with European partners to meet the needs of the civilian population in the region.

On the other hand, the Kremlin announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed by phone with the French President the escalation of tension in Idlib.

The Kremlin added that Putin told Macron that all aspects of the settlement in Syria would be discussed in substance during his meeting with Erdogan in Moscow in the coming days.

On the other hand, the Al-Jazeera correspondent quoted diplomatic sources in the Turkish presidency, that Erdogan discussed with the French President during the contact the Syrian crisis and the refugee issue.

Relationships and situations
A statement issued by the Turkish Presidency Liaison Service stated that Erdoانan and Macron discussed bilateral relations, regional issues and refugees during a telephone conversation between them.

Erdoانan assured Macron that the Syrian regime paid a heavy price for its sinister attack on Turkish forces in Idlib.

He stressed the need for concrete steps to be taken on solidarity among NATO members.

He also stressed that if the regime's attacks in Syria did not stop, the humanitarian crisis would deepen in Idlib, adding that the pressure of refugees on our borders with Syria increases the pressure of migrants on our borders with Europe.

On the other hand, the Iranian presidency said that Turkish President Erdogan assured his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, in a telephone call that a political solution is the way to end the Syrian crisis.

She added that Rouhani suggested that Erdogan hold a tripartite meeting that would bring together officials from Iran, Turkey and Syria on Idlib, and he expressed Tehran's willingness to host it.

Rouhani also stressed that adhering to the territorial integrity of Syria and combating terrorism can neutralize differences.

The Kremlin announced that President Putin discussed in a phone call the situation in Idlib with Iranian President Rouhani.