The United States continues to prepare for the occupation of Idlib under the cover of al-Qaeda at an unprecedented pace. The details of a possible operation to be launched to prevent Pentagon and the PKK from occupying the region have been discussed in Ankara. The delegation under the chairmanship of Iranian Chief of General Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri focused mainly on Idlib on Thursday. A joint Turkey-Russia-Iran military operation is being discussed against any U.S. occupation. Bagheri put forward suggestions to establish a “de-escalation zone” in Idlib, according to reports.

Iran, Turkey to increase regional cooperation Iranian Chief of General Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri arrived in Ankara with a high-level military delegation of nine people, including his close working team. In the first high-leveled official visit from Tehran since 1979, which Iran's official IRNA news agency described as “unprecented” in Iran-Turkey relations, counterterrorism and border security was discussed, along with the negative effects the developments in the region had on the two countries at the presidential palace in Ankara.Visiting Turkey for three days following an invitation from his Turkish counterpart Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar, Bagheri on Wednesday met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister of National Defense Nurettin Canikli and National Intelligence Organization (MİT) Undersecretary Hakan Fidan. During Erdoğan’s reception of Bagheri, low-level meetings were held with military and political representatives from the Iranian delegation at the Presidential Complex.Turkish military chief meets Iranian counterpartCOMPREHENSIVE MEETINGSThe meetings with the Iranian delegation addressed the cooperation between the two critical countries in ensuring the security in the Arab geography and the Middle East. The meetings held in the presence of military missions focused on the developments in Syria and Idlib, and the recent affairs between the Gulf states which occurred after Muqtada al-Sadr’s communication.CONCERN FOR REFERENDUMThe concern arising from Iran’s steps in Iraq, where the Hashd al-Shaabi terrorist organization has been made a part of the national army in Iraq, will be discussed. Additionally, the possible effects of a referendum in the region expected to be held in the Iraqi Kurdish regional government will be addressed. It has been reported that Iran is concerned about the region following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu statement that his government supports the independence referendum in Iraq.IRANIAN DELEGATION INCLUDES STAFF OFFICERSBagheri arrived in Turkey with a military delegation of nine Iranian generals, including the Deputy Chief of General Staff, IRGC Ground Force Commander, Commander of Border Guards, Deputy Chief of Iran General Staff Intelligence Department, and Operations Department. The three-day visit by the high-ranked Iranian military and political delegation indicates that Iran pays attention to the cooperation with Turkey against any threat to Tehran’s security in the aftermath of the recent developments in the region.

The plan includes establishing control in Idlib by eliminating “foreign” elements as Russian and Iranian troops advance from the south, and Turkey advances from the north. It is also reported that Russia started to deploy its troops in Mahardah and Halfaya in the south of Idlib, and the airport which was turned into a military base in Hama has been reinforced by Russia.

TURKEY CONCERNED FOR CIVILIANS

Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar and his Iranian counterpart Bagheri submitted the agreement reached on military issues to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the presidential palace. However, Turkey is weary of this plan. Ankara believes that such an operation against Idlib, where more than two million Syrians, most of them refugees, live, might result in the death many civilians. Turkey also points out that if pro-Assad forces enter Idlib, where a great number of opposition members exist, the tension in the region might escalate. Moreover, it is quite difficult to distinguish between the groups in the region as “terrorists” or “opposition” under present conditions. Turkey highlights the importance of declaring Idlib a “de-escalation zone” after the U.S. increased its efforts to launch an operation using al-Qaeda as excuse, and says the check points and secure lines should begin to be established.

Qatar FM arrives in Kuwait amid Gulf crisis Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani arrived in Kuwait on Wednesday for an unscheduled visit amid a Gulf crisis triggered by the cut-off of ties between Doha and four Arab states.In June, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism. Critical Turkey, Qatar meetingThe Qatari minister met Kuwait's emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah shortly to deliver a message from Qatar's ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani about bilateral relations and latest regional and international developments, the official KUNA news agency said.Can GCC survive death of international organizations?Earlier this month, Sheikh Sabah sent messages to the leaders of the four countries boycotting Qatar, in a move seen by the media as a new Kuwaiti initiative to resolve the crisis. The four states have imposed a sea, land and air embargo on Qatar and presented a list of demands for Doha or face further sanctions. Qatar, for its part, denies the accusations and contends that the blockade is in violation of international law.Arab bloc won't discriminate against US firms in Qatar riftBahrain FM arrives in Iraq amid Gulf crisis

US Defense Minister to visit Ankara

Ankara also received Kuwait’s Defense Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and his delegation on Thursday. Kuwait Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Al-Hamad al-Sabah visited Minister of National Defense Nurettin Canikli. A meeting between the delegations was held in the aftermath of the military welcoming ceremony. The diplomacy traffic in Ankara will increasingly continue, as it was noted in successive statements made on Thursday.

Iranian Chief of General Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri said in a statement that the meetings with Turkey will continue. Bagheri noted that he invited his counterpart Hulusi Akar to Iran to “continue the cooperation,” and that President Erdoğan will visit Iran soon. Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın stated Erdoğan will visit Jordan on August 21 to discuss Syria, Iraq and Palestine. Kalın added that the U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis will visit Turkey in the coming days. Mattis is expected to visit Turkey next week. Chief of the General Staff of Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov, will visit Ankara before Mattis.