​​​​​​​Which area was ceded in exchange for Idlib?

Baran's statements came during an interview with Hawar news agency about the latest developments in Syria, in particular the recent escalation in Ain Issa and the Turkish-Russian agreements on Idlib.

'The main players in Idlib are Russia, America and NATO'

Baran pointed out that Idlib is now witnessing a state of conflict and infighting, the main players are America, Russia and NATO, and added: "Russian and regime's warplanes bomb Idlib on a daily basis, and the Turkish state and its mercenaries also launch attacks on the regime forces' positions. There is talk about besieging 8 points of the Turkish state, while a number of them were evacuated or withdrawn from them to the back fronts. On the other hand, the Turkish state continues to mobilize its forces in the region. The truth is that the state of war and conflict in Idlib is not related to the Turkish state and the regime, as these two parties are only the front, but the main players are Russia and America, NATO."

'The American plan in Syria: expanding influence and forming military forces'

The former U.S. special envoy to Syria James Jeffrey stated some time ago that the United States of America and NATO support Turkey in Syria, and journalist Rohat Baran said about that: "Turkey relied on NATO support and worked to organize mercenaries, then occupy the region. Turkey and NATO have their own calculations. America sought, on the one hand, to open a sphere of influence for it in Syria to interfere in Syrian politics, and on the other hand it sought to use mercenary groups to establish paramilitary forces that would use them in other countries, so that America's image would not be damaged through direct dealing with mercenaries, declaring that it is the defenders of democracy in the world. It looked for a pragmatic person like Recep Tayyip Erdogan in order to implement this scheme.

'Iran and Russia changed the field map'

It is clear that Erdogan was persuaded that he would get a piece of the Syrian cake, and that he would take advantage of the opportunity and work to permanently eliminate the gains of Kurds, and we remember how he used to say that he would perform the noon prayer in the Umayyad Mosque, and then he began promoting the New Ottoman ambitions. He said that he would take back the lands of his ancestors, and work to expand the borders of his country, but later Russia and Iran entered the arena, and with their coming the field map changed."

'The game continues'

Baran noted that the regime and Russia will never give up control of Idlib, and indicated that Russia has made understandings with America on this issue, and that the mechanisms for implementing the Russian-American understanding have now entered into force. He continued: "With regard to the forces that move Turkey, the important issue is the extent of their need for mercenaries under Turkey's command, and to which extent they will be used?" In addition to the issue of settling the displaced who will flee Idlib if the regime advances in it. This is what is being planned for and discussed."

'Turkey is in a difficult situation'

"In general, Turkey is in a very difficult situation, and it has somewhat entered the Russian embrace," with this phrase, Rohat Baran referred to the depth of the Turkish-Russian relationship, noting that Turkey finds itself facing Russia everywhere it wishes to advance, and at the same time, it cannot do anything without Russia. On this contradictory relationship, Baran said: "In order to preserve its relations with Russia, it did not abandon the agreement to purchase S-400 missiles, entered into a confrontation with the United States of America, and fell into conflict and confrontation with Russia in Libya and Karabakh, and in Syria confrontations also occur."

'Similar scenario in Ain Issa: Aleppo in exchange for al-Bab and Ghouta in exchange for Afrin'

Journalist Rohat Baran linked the attacks on Ain Issa and what is happening at the Turkish observation points in Idlib, and said: "There is no doubt that Russia is pursuing certain tactics against Turkey in order to achieve progress in Idlib, and what it is interested in is defeating Turkish influence in the points located under Turkey's influence, as it is known, they allowed Turkey to enter al-Bab in exchange for abandoning Aleppo, and allowed it to occupy Afrin in exchange for abandoning Eastern Ghouta, and it seems that a similar scheme is being prepared now. The attacks targeting Ain Issa coincided with the withdrawal of Turkish forces from Control points in Idlib, this scenario reminds us of the previous scenarios."

'Why Ain Issa?'

In response to a question; Why Ain Issa? Baran said: "Turkey seeks to expand its occupation territory, therefore it is heading to Ain Issa because if it manages to occupy Ain Issa, it will completely close the Rojava outlets to the west, meaning that Manbij, Kobane and al-Shahba will be completely separated from the regions of north and east Syria. Later, it will go to those areas one by one, this is its plan, and in order to achieve this goal, it is working to escalate the situation in Ain Issa and make concessions to Russia."

'If Turkey resorts to the use of aircrafts, then everything will become clear'

According to Baran, what must be known in the event there is a Russian-Turkish understanding about Ain Issa, and if this agreement was made with the U.S. knowlage or not since the other field guarantor is America, and he said: "In the coming days, we will clearly understand the content of many matters. The Turkish state announced two days ago that it would go to Ain Issa to retrieve it, and attacked the village of al-Mushairfeh, at that time Russia committed itself to the ceasefire, silence, and at the same time, the Syrian regime forces remained bystanders to the attacks. This matter raises doubts, if the attacks continue, and the regime forces remain silent, then this means that there is an understanding between them, and on the other hand, the region is under the control of Russia, so if the Turkish state uses aviation, then everything will become clear at that time."

'Turkey may be defeated in Ain Issa'

Baran touched on the importance of the strategic location of Ain Issa, and said that all parties have certain accounts in Ain Issa, but on the ground there is a force represented by the Syrian Democratic Forces, adding: "The people of north and east Syria have been in a state of war since 12 years, managed to defeat a brutal force like ISIS after many countries failed to confront it, that is, they have self-organized, disciplined, and self-confident forces, and if they are not deceived by the international powers, this will constitute a privilege for them, meaning the Turkish state may be defeated in Ain Issa, as it relies only on its air forces, and this matter is linked to the Russian position."

D.H

ANHA