Attack on Idlib is harsh blow to Ankara; its parliament paves the way for invasion of Libya

On Tuesday morning, the Arab newspapers focused on the Russian-Turkish disparities, in addition to the Iraqi situation, and the Turkish intervention in Libya.

Al-Arab: Russia and Turkey's differences in the region threaten understandings in Syria

In this context, Al-Arab newspaper said, "Russian-Turkish discrepancies threaten more than one file in the region, including the Libyan file, and Ankara is directed to reduce its dependence on Moscow in the field of energy by concluding a controversial agreement with the Libyan Accord government on the maritime borders, the understandings between them in Syria, including the Sochi Agreement." What was concluded last year regarding the establishment of a De-escalation zone in Idlib.

Although Russia and Turkey are on the opposite sides of the Syrian crisis, with Moscow supporting President Bashar al-Assad, and in return, Ankara supports opposition and Islamic opposition groups, but over the past years they have succeeded in developing a formula for understanding, but it is free of any strategic dimensions, and it cannot be wagered to keep it going.

Today, Russia is watching Turkish moves in the eastern Mediterranean with cautious anxiety in light of its awareness that one of the reasons that prompted Ankara to conclude a maritime agreement with a government that controls only about 20 percent of Libya's area is the pursuit of its ambition to turn into a regional energy center, and reduce Its dependence on Russian gas and oil.

Turkey imports about 75 percent of its energy needs from abroad, most of it from Russia and Iran, and analysts say that the Turkish moves raise Moscow's concern, but the latter is betting on the existence of a growing regional and international front that will be able to address these moves.

Moscow considers that it may have a great opportunity to transform anxiety from the growing influence of Turkey, which collides with its interests in the region, into a special opportunity in Syria, as Turkey cannot open several fronts at the same time, and therefore it may be time to take a step towards the long-awaited Idlib.

On Sunday, Moscow expressed concern that the issue of "the continuing terrorist threat" in the Idlib region, northwest of Syria, was not resolved in conjunction with the return of Russian and Syrian raids on the eastern and southern provinces of the country.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed that "the removal of terrorists from the Idlib region is the responsibility of Turkey" under the agreement signed between them in Sochi in 2018.

Analysts say Peskov's comments clearly carry a message to Turkey that if it continues to stall the implementation of the terms of the Sochi Agreement, which is based on separating jihadists from opposition factions in Idlib, it will have to act.

Analysts point out that Peskov's statements that coincide with the return of air strikes against areas controlled by the Headquarters of Hayet Tahrir al-Sham in the province, in parallel to talk of a military build-up for the Syrian army in the region, suggests that Moscow will not accept the situation in Idlib indefinitely, and that it may put It is set its sights on resolving the issue there militarily over the next few months.

Russia's message seems to have quickly arrived in Ankara, which was quick to respond through its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who accused Russia and the United States of not fulfilling their promises to expel the Kurdish People's Protection Units from northeastern Syria.

It reflects Erdogan's statements and his implicit threat to return to the invasion of northeastern Syria, fearing that Russia in particular would take advantage of his preoccupation with the battles that he opened in the eastern Mediterranean with more than one country to strike his achievements in Syria, especially in Idlib.

Russia's waving of an operation against Idlib will mean a strong blow to Ankara, as it will lose one of its most important cards in this country, as well as what may lead to an unprecedented wave of displacement into its lands, which will be difficult for it to deal with.

Al-Sharq al-Awsat: A public debate between Aoun and al-Hariri

On the Lebanese issue, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper said, "The delay in postponing the parliamentary consultations binding to the appointment of a new head of the Lebanese government until Thursday, caused public dispute between the Presidency of the Republic and the media office of the head of the caretaker government, Saad al-Hariri, who announced that the" Free Patriotic Movement "bloc was in the process of depositing its votes with the President of the Republic Michel Aoun to act on her will.

The media office warned of "the repetition of the constitutional breach that was faced by the martyr Prime Minister Rafik Hariri during the era of President Emile Lahoud."

In turn, the Presidency considered that this declaration is "pure fabrication" and "a judgment on intentions that is not valid in proper political action."

Al-Sharq al-Awsat: Turkish Parliament paves the way for military intervention in Libya

On the Libyan issue, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper said, "The Turkish parliament paved yesterday for a military intervention in Libya, while it was reported that Ankara was planning to establish a military base in Tripoli.

And the Foreign Relations Committee of the Turkish Parliament announced its approval of a proposed law to ratify the Memorandum of Understanding on military and security cooperation signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with Prime Minister of Accord government, Fayez al-Sarraj. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that this memorandum of understanding "reversed a situation" imposed by the Treaty of Sèvres (France) in 1920.

In addition, reports revealed that Turkey plans to establish a military base in Tripoli. The newspaper "News Turk" quoted unnamed sources as saying that Turkey had completed the feasibility studies for establishing base."

(T/S)

ANHA