An aerial view taken on February 22, 2020 shows a Turkish military convoy that crossed into the Syrian territory via the Kafr Lusin border, passing near Syria's northwestern city of Idlib and heading toward the south of the Idlib province. / AFP / Omar HA
ANKARA: Turkish and Russian defence ministers held a phone conversation on Saturday to discuss the situation in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib.
Hulusi Akar and Sergey Shoygu exchanged views to find a solution to the conflict in Idlib, according to the Turkish Defense Ministry.
Idlib, near Turkey's southern border, falls within a de-escalation zone laid out in a deal between Turkey and Russia in late 2018.
Some 1 million Idlib refugees have moved towards the Turkish border in recent months, fleeing attacks by the Assad regime and its allies which caused a desperate humanitarian situation.
Turkey has called for an immediate halt to the attacks on Idlib, and for the cease-fire to be followed, warning that if the attacks do not stop, Turkey will take action.
