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Turkey, Saudi warn over Russia's 'Syria mistake'
By Fulya OZERKAN
Ankara (AFP) Oct 15, 2015


Russia says eases up Syria strikes as Assad forces attack on ground
Moscow (AFP) Oct 15, 2015 - Russia said Thursday that its jets hit 32 "terrorist" targets in Syria over the past 24 hours, claiming it had eased up its air strikes as allied government forces pushed a ground offensive.

"The intensity of the sorties by our military aviation has slightly decreased in the past day," Russia's defence ministry said in a statement.

"This is linked to the fact that the front line with the terrorist groups of ISIL is changing as a result of active offensives by the Syrian armed forces," the statement said, using another acronym to refer to the Islamic State group.

The number of targets reportedly hit -- in Damascus, Idlib, Hama, Deir Ezzor, and Aleppo provinces -- was well down on the highest one-day tally of 86 that Moscow claimed its forces had struck on Tuesday.

The Russian military said the latest strikes had destroyed an anti-aircraft missile complex that had fallen into the hands of IS militants near Eastern Ghouta, some 50 kilometres northeast of Damascus.

Strikes in the region around the capital also destroyed a base housing armed vehicles.

Russia's defence ministry said air strikes in Aleppo province in the north had destroyed an IS command post and an underground bomb-making workshop.

Syrian state television reported Thursday that the army of President Bashar al-Assad had launched an offensive in Homs province, taking control of the village of Al-Dar Al-Kabirah.

The latest Russian strikes destroyed artillery positions in Khan Sheikhun in the Hama province, one of the targets of the Syrian military offensive.

"The militants are retreating, trying to set up new positions and change the logistic system providing them with ammunition, weaponry and materials," the Russian defence ministry said.

Russia launched a bombing campaign in Syria on September 30 at the request of its longstanding ally Assad that Moscow says is targeting IS and other "terrorist" groups.

The US and its allies carrying out separate air strikes against IS insist Moscow is primarily targeting more moderate rebels fighting Assad.

Turkey and Saudi Arabia on Thursday warned Russia over the consequences of its intervention in Syria, with Ankara telling Moscow its bombing campaign in support of the regime was a "big mistake".

The two majority Sunni Muslim powers both support the moderate opposition in Syria and have been infuriated by Moscow's bombing campaign to prop the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Turkey's anger grew earlier this month when Russian aircraft operating in Syria twice violated the air space of the key NATO member.

"Russia is making a big mistake," Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu told reporters after talks in Ankara with Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir.

"What it does will bring no meaning or benefit, other than delaying the transition process to help Syria out of the chaos," he added.

"We will continue with our warnings."

The Turkish army meanwhile said a Russian military delegation led by air force Lieutenant General Sergei Dronov arrived in Ankara on Thursday to share flight data "to prevent a repeat of incursions."

Ankara is also particularly concerned over claims -- denied by Moscow -- that its bombing campaign has targeted anti-Assad rebels rather than the stated aim of Islamic State (IS) jihadists.

"Saudi Arabia and Turkey are in agreement on supporting the opposition in Syria. What is important is a political solution," Jubeir said.

"We are in agreement that there will certainly be no role for Bashar al-Assad," he added.

He said that in recent talks with top Russian officials, Riyadh had told Moscow that the Syria crisis should be solved according to the 2012 Geneva communique which envisages a political transition in Syria.

"We (in Ankara) discussed the intervention of foreign powers, especially the Russian intervention which is a very critical issue," Jubeir said.

Their united opposition to the Russian bombing campaign has intensified a rapprochement between Turkey and Saudi Arabia that has gained pace over the last months.

Riyadh and Ankara fell out badly over Saudi's support of the toppling by the Egyptian army of president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 who Turkey has strongly supported.

But in a sign of warming ties, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly defended Saudi Arabia against vehement criticism from within the Islamic world over the deaths of hundreds of pilgrims at a stampede during the hajj pilgrimage.

- 'Come to senses'-

Turkey has grown increasingly concerned over US and even Russian backing for Syrian Kurds who Ankara accuses of being allies of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Turkey summoned the Russian and US envoys this week to warn against supporting militarily the Democratic Unity Party (PYD), which Ankara accuses of being the Syrian offshoot of the outlawed PKK.

PYD leader Salih Muslim has reportedly said Syrian Kurds would not attack Turkey but would defend themselves in case of any Turkish assault.

"I am inviting Salih Muslim to come to his senses," Sinirlioglu said.

"It would not be good for him if he forgets about Turkey's will and determination," he added.

"We have sent a clear message to the PYD. Any action against Turkey will be punished without any hesitation."

Moscow's attitude to the PYD has worried Ankara, with Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov meeting Muslim in Paris on October 8. But Moscow has vehemently denied supplying arms to the Syrian Kurds.

After the air space violations, Erdogan had warned Moscow against losing Turkey's friendship.

Bogdanov, quoted by Interfax news agency, said Moscow hoped to hold talks with Turkish diplomats in the next days to "find where our approaches merge."


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