DAMASCUS, Syria, March 20 (NNN-SANA) – Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, on Tuesday discussed the situation in Syria’s Eastern Euphrates region and Idlib Province, with visiting Russian DefenCe Minister, Sergey Kuzhugetovich Shoygu.
Both sides agreed to continue joint work, to find suitable solutions to the issues of Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold in Syria, and the Eastern Euphrates River region in eastern Syria, which is largely controlled by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
It’s worth noting that, the United States is behind the SDF in its push in the Eastern Euphrates River region in eastern Syria, while Turkey enjoys big sway over the rebels in Idlib.
Assad and Shoygu also discussed the “high coordination” between the two countries, in the anti-terror efforts and the achievements made in the fight against the Daesh militant group and the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front in Syria.
The visit of Shoygu comes a day after the chiefs of staff of Iran and Iraq visited Syria, and held meetings with Syrian Defence Minister, Ali Abdullah Ayyoub, and then, Assad.
During the meeting with the two officials, Ayyoub said, the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) must embark on reconciliation with the government, or the areas under their control will be retaken by the Syrian army.
The Syrian official said, the government will completely wrest control over all territory, including Idlib sooner or later, through reconciliations or military force.
The Syrian government has long said, it would retrieve Idlib from the ultra-radical rebels. However, a planned military campaign was put on hold late last year when Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed on setting up a demilitarised zone in Idlib.– NNN-SANA
