Turkey warns against repeating SW scenario in Syria’s Idlib

Ankara warned on Thursday that it does not want the devastating scenario unfolding in Syria’s southwest to be repeated in the northwestern province of Idlib, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

“We do not want the same scenario in Syria's southwest to be experienced in Idlib,” a statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

The statement went on to “strongly condemn” the regime attacks targeting de-escalation zones in southern Syria.

Last month, regime forces launched a wide-ranging military operation -- supported by Russian air power – in Daraa, leading the regime and its allies to establish control over most of the country's southernmost border with Jordan in line with a cease-fire deal between Russia and armed opposition groups.

The fighting has led to a major displacement crisis, with an estimated 350,000 civilians fleeing Daraa in recent days towards areas near the Jordanian border.

Following peace talks held last year in Kazakh capital Astana, Daraa was designated a “de-escalation zone” in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.

Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.