US urges Turkey to protect civilians in Syria

washington - The US Secretary of State has urged Turkey to protect civilians in Syria, including minorities, in a discussion with the Turkish Foreign Minister.

The Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, also discussed the need for a political solution in Syria during the conversation, according to a statement.

Although Turkey supports rebel groups in Syria, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which launched an offensive last week, is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey. Sources in contact with the Turkish security service, however, told Reuters that Turkey has given the green light for the offensive. HTS has been the de facto government of the city of Idlib, located near the Turkish border, for years.

Last week, the rebel group HTS launched the offensive and rapidly advanced, claiming to have captured the cities of Aleppo, Hama, and Daraa. The offensive came at a relatively weak moment for the Syrian government, supported by Iran and Russia. The Russian military is using its forces in Ukraine, and Iran's ability to help is limited by the conflict with Israel.

The US newspaper The New York Times reported on Friday that Iranian troops supporting the regime of the Syrian president have begun to withdraw from Syria.