An agreement has been reached to hold a three-way meeting between the US, Russia and Jordan in Syria’s southern de-escalation zone, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Tuesday, according to the RIA news agency.
On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that only Syrian government troops should have a presence on Syria's southern border with Jordan and Israel, after Washington warned of "firm and appropriate measures" over truce violations in the region.
Jordan also said on Monday it was discussing developments in southern Syria with the US and Russia and that all three have agreed on the need to preserve the de-escalation zone, which they brokered last year and which has reduced violence.
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Only Syrian army should be on country’s southern border
US issues words of caution as Syrian regime expected to target Daraa
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Rebels hold stretches of that area and intensive Israeli air strikes in Syria this month were a result of what Israel claims was Iranian rocket fire from the area into the Golan Heights.
Both Russia and Iran are close allies of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported Syrian army movements into the south and state media have reported leaflet drops on rebel-held areas there urging insurgents to accept government rule, two signs a military offensive may be coming.
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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