(JP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are preparing to meet their Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, in Ankara on Monday. They will be discussing Syria and, according to Russian media, specifically the situation in the Idlib province. Turkish-backed Syrian rebels and extremist groups in Idlib have been hard-pressed in recent months by increasing bombardment from the Syrian regime. Turkey wants quiet in Idlib and no new refugee crises. Iran, Turkey and Russia share one goal in Syria: Evict the Americans.
They don’t share much else. Currently, Russia is the key backer of the Syrian government in Damascus. It is the big backer, in terms of airpower, air defense and international support. Iran is a different kind of ally. It has sent advisers and support to Syria’s regime, but in recent years, this has provoked Israeli airstrikes. In January, Israel’s former chief of staff said it struck more than 1,000 Iranian targets in Syria. In the last weeks, an airstrike targeted an Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard corps “killer drone” team near the Golan. Tensions are high. READ MORE
