Turkey aims to stop anticipated airstrikes in Syria's Idlib: FM

Turkey aims to stop anticipated airstrikes from hitting Syria's Idlib, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Saturday.

He warned against a serious humanitarian tragedy in Idlib, adding that it is a de-escalation zone where 3.5 million people live.

“Turkey is working intensely with Russia and Iran to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. Some countries are acting according to their own agendas,” Çavuşoğlu said.

“We have exerted great efforts regarding the distinction between radical and moderate groups in Idlib. The Assad regime is making up excuses to attack Idlib,” he added.

A trilateral summit of the leaders of Turkey, Russia and Iran on Friday underlined that “there could be no military solution to the Syrian conflict" and called for advancing the political process to reach a negotiated solution.

“The Idlib matter must be solved in a manner befitting of the spirit of Astana. A ceasefire is the solution. We have told Western countries numerous times. They support terror groups. Turkey is the only country that is putting forward a stance for Syria’s security,” Çavuşoğlu said.