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Turkish President Speaks Against Possible Operation in Syrian Idlib - Reports

© AP Photo / Presidential Press Service/PoolTurkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during an Iftar, the evening meal breaking the Ramadan fast, at his palace in Ankara, Turkey, Saturday, May 19, 2018
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during an Iftar, the evening meal breaking the Ramadan fast, at his palace in Ankara, Turkey, Saturday, May 19, 2018 - Sputnik International
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Turkish President Rejep Tayyip Erdogan claimed that the possible offensive in Syria's Idlib province would be a massacre, local media reported.

Turkish President Rejep Tayyip Erdogan claimed that he hopes to prevent 'disproportionate' measures by the Syrian government at the negotioations with Russia and Iran at Tehran summit. According to Hurriyet, Erdogan said that "attacks on Idlib" would be a massacre.

Erdogan also said that the situation it the Syrian Idlib province was important as well as partnership with Russia.

Syrian army artillery soldiers in Idlib province in northwestern Syria. file photo - Sputnik International
US Will Do Whatever It Takes to Stop Assad From Freeing Idlib – Syrian General
Earlier, the US State Department said in a press release that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu agreed during a phone call on Tuesday that any offensive by Syrian President Bashar Assad in Idlib would be unacceptable and an escalation of the country's conflict.

Idlib province, which is a remaining stronghold of insurgency in the country, is one of Syria's de-escalation zones. Syrian President Bashar Assad previously said that the Idlib province liberation was among the priorities for the Syrian military's operations. Syrian Foreign minister Walid Muallem said earlier that the Washington's warnings would not affect the "determination of the Syrian people and Syrian army’s plans to clear Idlib and finally put an end to terrorism in Syria."

READ MORE: Syrian Government Has Every Right to Liquidate Terrorists In Idlib — Lavrov

Meanwhile, the situation in the province has been tense amid reports on terrorists preparing a false-flag chemical attack against civilians, set to provoke western nations into launching a military action against the Syrian government.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also expressed his dissatisfaction with delays in implementation of the Turkish-US agreements on the northern Syria city of Manbij.

A U.S. soldier sits on an armored vehicle behind a sand barrier at a newly installed position near the tense front line between the U.S-backed Syrian Manbij Military Council and the Turkish-backed fighters, in Manbij, north Syria, Wednesday, April 4, 2018 - Sputnik International
Turkey, US Agreed Roadmap of YPG's Withdrawal From Syria's Manbij
In June, Turkey and the United States struck a deal regarding Manbij, agreeing that the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) would withdraw from the city and yield control over Manbij to the Turkish and US troops. Ankara has long sought this development since it considers the YPG to be affiliated to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is listed as a terrorist organization in Turkey.

"I cannot characterize the situation around Manbij as satisfactory. Implementation of the agreement is being delayed. Unfortunately, the process is not developing in a proper direction. Heads of our [Turkish and US] foreign and defense ministries will hold the talks and I hope on some progress," Erdogan told reporters, as quoted by the Haberturk broadcaster.

The president added that he was not going to hold talks with his US counterpart Donald Trump on the issue in the near future.

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