Imminent Idlib Assault Off After Turkey and Russia Strike Deal by Hannah Lucinda Smith and Marc Bennetts - The Times
President Putin and President Erdogan have struck an eleventh-hour deal to avert an imminent assault and bloodbath in Idlib, the last major rebel territory in Syria.
The two leaders hammered out a deal to create a demilitarised buffer zone between rebel and regime forces in the northwestern Syrian province during nearly two hours of talks in the Black Sea resort of Sochi yesterday.
Mr Putin said that the buffer zone would separate Syrian government forces from rebels and would be established by October 15.
Fighters with extremist groups will be moved out of the area, as will heavy weaponry, but Mr Erdogan said “dissidents” would be allowed to remain. It is to be patrolled by Turkish and Russian forces…