James Jeffrey, the American Special Representative for Syria, considered that the regime's control of Idlib was a strategic danger, and confirmed his support for the Turkish military operation there, and Turkey announced the arrest of members of Kurdish militias suspected of involvement in a bombing in the Syrian city of Afrin two days ago.

During an online meeting organized by the Atlantic Council Foundation, Jeffrey said that the United States regards the Syrian regime's control of Idlib, where millions of Syrians live, as a strategic threat.

Jeffrey stressed that his country is happy for the Turkish forces to control what he described as terrorist groups during the ceasefire. "There was an exchange of fire, there is some pressure on them. We hope to see a continuation of this."

Jeffrey added that the Americans want the Russians to pressure the Syrian regime to negotiate a new constitution and pave the way for national elections.

The US representative affirmed the support of the United States to all of its partners and allies who have great security concerns about Syria, not only Turkey but also Israel and Jordan.

Sterilization of refugee tents in an Idlib camp, fearing the spread of Corona (Anadolu Agency)

The Afrin bombing
In another context, the Turkish Anatolia Agency stated that the security forces in the area subject to the Syrian opposition with Turkish support arrested the "terrorist" who brought the booby-trapped tanker to the location of the bombing in Afrin, and that it belonged to the Kurdish People's Protection Units.

She added that two other members of the Kurdish units were arrested, the first who assisted in the bombing.

On Tuesday, 44 people were killed, including 11 children, and 48 others were injured, in the explosion of a booby-trapped tank in a crowded popular market in Afrin, the city that was a stronghold of the Kurdish units before it was seized by the Turkish forces and the Syrian opposition in this month two years ago.

On the other hand, the Turkish Ministry of Defense stated in a statement that the Turkish and Russian forces have completed the conduct of the seventh joint patrol on the international road "M4" in Idlib province, which includes land and air forces from both sides, and the sixth patrol on the aforementioned road has been completed last Tuesday.

The patrols are part of the Moscow agreement signed on March 5 between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian Vladimir Putin.