In the South-West of Syria at Damascus had many difficulties. After quick success in the Eastern part of the province of Dar, where the first managed to achieve the rapid defeat of the separate militant groups, and then surrender to their more cautious comrades, it was the turn of bordering Israel.

Western Quneitra and Dar since 2011, was controlled by the opposition, and then the Islamic state. In itself, this fact does not complicate the task of Damascus, it was more difficult to cope with another factor — with the actions of tel Aviv.

Israel is the main problem in Syria had outlined the Iranian presence. And that’s what officials explain the regular attacks of the IDF on the Syrian positions. To the Bashar al-Assad’s major complaints seems to be no, with the exception of his desire to contribute to the development of Persian bases in Syria. Taking note of the concerns of Netanyahu and his team, Russia has promised to push Pro-Iranian group from the Golan heights to 80 kilometers. However, this does not facilitate a military operation of the Syrian Arab army and the Russian VKS, near the occupied part of the province of Quneitra. Israel has made many attacks on the positions of the CAA, promised even more threatened Assad and demanded the immediate and complete withdrawal of Iranian and Hezbollah fighters from Syria. It inhibited the defeat of the last strongholds of the terrorists in the South-West of the country, but in the end, Moscow and Damascus have been able to bring the case to the end, incurring the minimum possible in such difficult circumstances, the damage. Of course, with Israel, Damascus will be many more difficulties, but still managed to avoid relapse.

However, tel Aviv is the turn of Ankara. Assad and all his men intend in the near future to liberate the province of Idlib. It borders Turkey, and it last now there’s the Director. Its forces control the perimeter of the opposition possessions. In some areas, reportedly, and is operated by the Turkish administration. And not long before Damascus was to pull the main force towards the North in the occupied areas, Turkey has started to strengthen its positions in Idlib and even rebuild critical facilities in some localities. Obviously, this can be a problem that needs solving so that none of the parties, with the exception of terrorists, was not to be the loser. According to reports by various international media outlets, the solution process has begun. It was initiated by Russia. She allegedly gave Turkey a period of one month in order to deal with the situation in Idlib. If Ankara will not be able to understand properly, all in Idlib will become targets for the Syrian Arab army and their Russian allies. Thus the Turks are now engaged in uniting local forces on the basis of the Syrian Arab army. According to various estimates, the consolidation of opposition groups may lead to the creation of the army, numbering seventy thousand men.

Turkish expert keram Yildirim believes that anticipating all possible difficulties, Erdogan err. If his plan to summit of the Russian Federation, Turkey, France and Germany became a kind of insurance against the rapid onset of the Syrian military in Idlib.

— Russia and Turkey never can afford too serious contradictions, otherwise Astana, the format will fail. For all it is important as an alternative to the senseless Geneva format. Moreover, Russia and Turkey acted as the principal initiators of these negotiations. (Format — ed.) the framework was able to achieve great things, and his disappearance would make all previous achievements as meaningless. What is planned in Istanbul on the seventh of September (this day is planning to hold a summit of Turkey, Russia, Germany and France — ed.) you can call the continuation and expansion of the Astana format.

“SP”: — How the summit may affect the situation in Idlib?

— Now the main problem for Turkey and for Russia in this part of Syria is still the issue of terrorist groups, mainly groups that formed following the collapse of the jabhat an-Nusra. Turkey deals with this issue for some time, but it failed to solve due to the presence of other problems. Perhaps this month Russia and Turkey will manage to eliminate the influence of these terrorists in the hotel districts of Idlib. What about the free Syrian army, in its ranks there are people in favour of rapprochement with the regime. This was demonstrated on the example of Shabab as-Sunnah (the formation of which is closely associated with the free Syrian army, recently liaised with government forces – ed.). So a diplomatic solution to the existing misunderstanding is possible. I believe that it is unlikely that Assad and Russia will refuse from this opportunity, if it will save a lot of lives. Most likely, between the regime and the Syrian opposition in Idlib will be understood, of course, now it needs the mediation of Turkey and Russia. I think that after the summit, this will be announced.