Bashar al-Assad

At least 33 Turkish soldiers have been killed and tens of others injured in an airstrike by forces of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Idlib, northwestern Syria, a Turkish official said on Feb. 28.

Turkish organizations dispatched 10 trucks of humanitarian aid Feb. 19 to Syria's northwestern city of Idlib, which has been under severe bombardment from forces of the Bashar al-Assad regime.

Syrian government air strikes backed by Russia have hit hospitals and displaced persons camps in northwest Syria and killed about 300 civilians as President Bashar al-Assad's forces press an assault against the last rebel stronghold, the United Nations said on Feb. 18.

James Jeffrey, the U.S. special envoy for Syria engagement and fight against ISIL, will pay a visit to Turkey on Feb. 12 amid recent escalation in Syria's last rebel bastion of Idlib, a province in the country's northwest.

U.S. Secretary of State on Feb. 4 offered condolences for Turkish troops killed by Syrian regime shelling in Idlib and reiterated Washington's support amid clashes with regime forces.

Mike Pompeo called the attack on Turkish observation posts by forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad regime a "grave escalation."

At least four Turkish soldiers were killed and nine others injured in intense shelling by Bashar al-Assad regime forces in northwestern Syria on Feb. 3, the Turkish Defense Ministry said.

Moscow is once again the center of world politics, German Handelsblatt correspondent Matthias Brugman writes.
Russian President is a geopolitical winner, thanks to his choice to take risks. He has secured power in the country and has also strengthened himself on the world stage in foreign policy, Brugman claims.

Turkey should play a mediation role between the two rival camps in Libya better instead of siding with one of the parties, the main opposition leader has said, urging the government to repair ties with other regional actors Syria, Israel and Egypt.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar received U.S. Special Envoy for Syria James Jeffrey, Turkey's Ministry of National Defense announced on Jan. 10.

In a written statement, the ministry said Akar and Jeffrey discussed issues of regional security with a special focus on Syria.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived today on an unannounced preliminary visit to Syria, where he met with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, TASS and the Associated Press reported.

Bilateral negotiations took place between the Russian and Syrian delegations.