Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. © Mikhail Voskresenskiy / Sputnik
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on May 8 that Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is still attacking the Russian Hmeimim airbase and stressed that “the terrorist nest” in Syria’s Idlib “must be uprooted.”
“The al-Nusra Front was covered under a new name, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, that don’t only control the situation there [Idlib], but also shell and attack the Syrian military positions and civilian areas. Recently, they also shelled the Russian Hmeimim airbase,” Lavrov said at a news conference with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, in Moscow, according to Sputnik.
The minister added: “For sure, they [the terrorists] received a response and will receive another in the future.”
These remarks came as the SAA continues to advance in the northern Hama countryside. The army also kicked off a ground operation in northern Lattakia. HTS and its allies maintain strong military presence in both regions.
Regarding the fate of the Russian-Turkish demilitarized zone agreement following these operations, Lavrov clarified that the agreement “doesn’t include a single word about the importance of protecting terrorists.”
Lavrov’s remarks indicate that Moscow is determined to neutralize the terrorist threat in Idlib by all available means.
And Afrin and the rest will also go in the packet, because…
Mr. Lavrov : you should say that to Mr. Putin !
Absurd what you’re saying, Lavrov, Shoigu and Putin are the Troika for international relations. You are every day more mad, so mad that you can any more be called intel, it’s only madness. Detail: you lost the elections in Panama…
You should compare the last half dozen statements that have come from lavrov to the ones that have come from Putin, It’s like they’re talking about 2 different battlefronts with different lots of combatants, as well as completely different end goals for the Idlib situation altogether. I know exactly what he means, I’ve read the last few and also wondered what the hell’s going on, perhaps you should do a few comparisons between their last few statements and see if you don’t also agree they’re very conflictory to say the least.
Simplifying: bad cop, good cop.
That sometimes works when you’re trying to convince a criminal to admit something, but when you’re trying to stop terrorists fighting it just send mixed messages, and they should only be getting one message from Russia, the one Lavrov’s just made.
The criminals are the terrorist sponsors.
At the moment that’s Erdogan, he not only supports them he also protects them, but then again so does Putin, otherwise they’d already be gone and no longer a problem.
And who bigger supports, on that peculiar question, Erdogan?
Erdogan supports the terrorists, but Putin supports Erdogan, work it out.
Error, who supports Erdogan because he supports the terrorists isn’t Putin (Russia). Try again.
The good news is that Erdogan has remained quiet about all this. Now lets see his turkish soldiers out of Syria.
why Erdoğan so quiet I wonder maybe agreement between him and the Russian friends never know. Will see soon
Could be….Erdogan wants the best for his party. After the failed NATO coup he has changed, and maybe wants to build better ties with Russia, Iran and the Arab World.
First the terrorists in the Kremlin should be taken out . And let the people of Russia live a good life they have all they need except a great leader .Putin is a criminal .
Congratulations, Tonto (= maluco, doido), you are part of the trash of the History, so enjoy the cake.
You mean the terrorist people in us government?
hopefully now russia will give full support to SAA offensive on idlib, its in their interests as well, to stop the rats from attacking hmeimim
When Lavrov says that the terrorists must be uprooted they will be uprooted [even if the “root” is all over Idlib! ;) ]
Lavrov’s right, Turkey designated HTS as a terrorist organization last year which made them valid targets for the SAA and Russia, according to that particular Astana agreement, but it also allowed many other groups to stay off the terrorist list, many of which are fighting the SAA right now. In particular the FSA and the NFL which are the worst offenders, they’re continually attacking the SAA with a lot more than just small arms, they have rocket launchers and tanks as well, and even though they were supposedly fighting HTS not so long ago, now they’re offering to stand beside them in the fight against the SAA and Russia. So why don’t the Russians wipe these bastards out as well, just finish the lot off, it’s because the NFL and the FSA have Erdogan’s support, that’s why. Three groups of rebels are attacking the SAA at the moment, but the Russians are only retaliating against one of them, HTS, the others go unpunished, what a strange world.
Russia has just mollycoddled the Turk army and headchoppers. It has practically given this land to Erdogan. I care about actions not words. Defacto ,Russia has looked the other way while Turkey has taken parts of Syria.
Yes he has, and he’s done it from day one. I used to think Erdogan had some sort of hold over him, but not anymore, I now realize Putin’s the real puppet master, and he’s just really good at making it look like it’s all Erdogan’s fault, while he himself gets everything he wants, poor Assad.
I can’t tell if you are genuinely upset at Putin for screwing it all up or just trolling me.
No I’m not trolling you at all, sorry you have that impression. I admire Putin very much for many things, but I have nothing but contempt for his handling of the Syrian situation and in particular his treatment of Assad. I said from day one his failure to boot Russian boots on the ground was a mistake, and he’s made many more since. Poor Assad’s gotten the rough end of the stick ever since Erdogan came into the picture, and I used to blame Erdogan’s manipulation of Putin for that, I no longer do, I now hold Putin solely responsible, he is the master manipulator, not Erdogan, Erdogan is just a mug.
Then I agree Putin has not handled it enough for the Syrians but I think he was duped or sold out for Russia’s own interests. I don’t think he really manipulated Erdogan. I do think Putin is very shrewd and I like him for it but i wish he got rid of these Turks /headchoppers and natoists sooner.
Tough words Lavrov but YOU bussed them in with bullshit of having them all in the same place for easier killing afterwards. Well? What happened! Nothing.
The Idlib offensive has started on Wednesday 8 May, 2019. Two towns have liberated at the border area of Idlib province.
Let us see then, Russia actions on Idlib, Al-tanf, and with Kurds (USA-Israel puppets).