Russia, Turkey, Iran Reach Agreement On Idlib Stabilisation: Statement

Wires reporting that Russia, Turkey, and Iran have reached an agreement to 'make further efforts to ensure sustainable normalisaiton of the Idlib zone [in northwest Syria]' according to a joint statement.

• All three 'highlighted the necessity of maintaining calm on the ground by fully implementing all agreements on Idlib'.
• The agreement comes after tripartite talks in Kazakhstan. Expectations are that Turkey is set to launch a military operation in the region against the Kurdish 'People's Defense Units' militia, known as the YPG.
• There is increasing focus on the stability of Idlib, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announcing that one million Syrian will be resettled in 'safe zones' near the Turkish border in northern Syria amidst an escalation in anti-immigrant sentiment in Turkey as the country's economic slowdown begins to hit households hard.