Erdogan blames Assad militias for destroying relative stability in Idlib

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday (August 27) that he and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan have outlined additional joint measures aimed at rooting out "terrorists" in Syria's Idlib area.

Putin told a joint briefing with Erdogan that the two countries agreed steps in northwest Syria to help "normalise" the situation there after am Assad army offensive encircled opposition fighters and a Turkish military post.

Putin, speaking after talks with Erdogan, also said he and the Turkish leader had underlined that Syria should remain a unified country. 

Erdogan has said the Assad army attacks in the Idlib region bordering Turkey have caused a humanitarian crisis and threaten Turkey's national security.

Bashar Assad militias, backed by Russian air power, have been waging an offensive in the Idlib region, the major opposition-held territory in Syria.

Erdogan, standing alongside Putin, blamed Assad militias for destroying the "relative stability in Idlib".