Turkish-Russian Military Officials' Talks Fail in Tal Rifa'at

TEHRAN (defapress)- The Russian-Turkish talks in Tal Rifa’at have failed after the Turkish delegation refused some of the terms offered by the opposite side under the deal, local sources in Northern Aleppo said on Thursday.

News ID: 69443

Date: 29 March 2018 - 15:39

The sources said that the Turkish Army refused to force the militants in Jisr al-Shughour in Southern Idlib to hand over the town to the Syrian Army, adding that the move prompted the Russians to refuse to hand over Tal Rifa’at in Northern Aleppo to Turkey.

The militants in Jisr al-Shughour have long been a thorn in the Syrian Army’s side, as the town’s proximity to  Lattakia leaves them within striking distance of government areas.

In recent days, the Syrian and Russian air forces have increased their attacks on Jisr al-Shughour in an effort to get the militants to be more receptive to handing over the town.

Field sources reported on Wednesday that the Russian Air Force carried out several rounds of combat flights over the positions of Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at (the Levant Liberation Board or the Al-Nusra Front) in Southern Idlib, destroying terrorists' bases.

The Russian jets flying out of the Humeimim Airbase in Southwestern Lattakia carried out several raids, striking Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at’s positions in the Southern part of Idlib province.

In particular, the warplanes bombed a main base of Tahrir al-Sham located inside the Southern Idlib town of al-Naqir, which is located just a few kilometers North of the Syrian army's frontlines.