Lavrentyev will visit Turkey to discuss possible ground operation

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
7 Dec 2022 15:26

Alexander Lavrentyev, the special presidential envoy of Russia to Syria will be in Turkey this December to discuss the possible Turkish ground operation and air campaign in northern Syria.

Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentyev (TASS)

On December 8 and 9, Alexander Lavrentyev, the special presidential envoy of Russia to Syria, will head to Turkey, according to Aydnilik.

Lavrentyev's visit occurs as Turkey is mulling a ground operation in addition to an air campaign against militant strongholds of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its armed branch, the YPK, both of which Turkey has labeled as terrorist organizations located in northern Syria.

SDF stance remains unchanged

The commander of the Russian forces in Syria, Alexsander Chaiko, left Qamishli after meeting with the SDF leader to discuss effective ways to prevent escalation, Al Mayadeen's sources reported Monday.

"Chaiko met with SDF commander Mazloum Abdi at his headquarters, which is at the same time a joint base for the SDF and the coalition," the sources said, stressing that "there are no new indications of a change in the SDF's position on the northern border."

Earlier today, Chaiko arrived at the Qamishli airport in northeast Syria from the Hmeimim airbase in the country's West, sources familiar with the matter told Al Mayadeen.

Chaiko will meet once again with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to discuss the latest developments in Syria's northern front, as well as Turkey's threats about a new military operation on its borders with Syria.

The Russian commander had visited the northeastern province of Al-Hasakah last Sunday, meeting with SDF leader Mazloum Abdi, Al Mayadeen's sources reported at the time.

Al Mayadeen's sources stated that the meeting "discussed the Turkish threats to launch a ground operation and ways to take measures to prevent the operation from taking place," stressing that Chayko "reintroduced the idea of the deployment of the Syrian army along the border strip, at a depth of 30 km."