Turkish, Russian defense ministers discuss Syria as Erdogan slams Damascus over ‘Idlib offensive’

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu discussed by phone developments in Syria’s Idlib province and measures to reduce tension there, the Turkish Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

On Monday, rebels said they mounted a counterattack against government forces in northwestern Syria, where Idlib is located, ramping up battles in the last major insurgent stronghold, Reuters said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the Syrian government of “seeking to sabotage” Ankara’s relationship with Russia through its latest offensive in Syria’s northwest, according to a tweet by Fahrettin Altun, communications director at the Turkish presidency.

Erdogan said that Syria’s “ceasefire violations targeting the Idlib de-escalation zone over the last two weeks have reached an alarming dimension,” AFP reported.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Syria’s former Al-Qaeda affiliate, controls most of Idlib province.