The Russian Information Agency, quoting the Kremlin, said that Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and discussed with him the easing of tension in Syria's Idlib, adding that the two presidents welcomed "reducing escalation" in the Syrian Idlib governorate.
This comes with the entry of a seventh-day cease-fire in Idlib, in light of a cautious calm within the entire region extending from the northeastern mountains of Latakia, to the northwestern outskirts of Aleppo, passing through the Hama and Idlib countryside.
The silence of the air strikes also continued, and the aerial bombardment stopped, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, yesterday, despite minor violations.
On Wednesday, the Syrian forces removed the dirt berms at the junction of the village of Kafriya, which had crossed the Aleppo-Lattakia International Road “M4” since 2012, in preparation for the Russian-Turkish patrols, and opened the international road towards Aleppo.
It also removed the mounds towards Ain al-Hoor in the countryside of Latakia, near the administrative borders with Idlib governorate.
This calm comes with Turkey announcing that an agreement was reached on the details of the cease-fire announced last week, following a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar announced that Turkish and Russian officials have reached a great deal on the details of the cease-fire in Idlib, during talks in Ankara.
He added that talks with the Russians are still continuing, pointing out that all Turkish forces in Idlib are still in their positions.
In addition, the Turkish minister reiterated the previous threats made by Erdogan, that his country will continue its military offensive in Idlib, if the cease-fire is violated.
It is noteworthy that, last week, the two countries agreed on a cease-fire, aimed at preventing the escalation of violence in Idlib.