The Other Big Story: With world’s eyes on Iran, Putin moves to avert conflict between Turkey and Syria
A "disaster unfolding" in Idlib; for now, Putin has Assad’s back; exhausted Syrian Army seeks to take the highways; eyes on Osaka.
![TURKEY-RUSSIA/SYRIA Turkish soldiers stand on a watch tower at the Atmeh crossing on the Syrian-Turkish border, as seen from the Syrian side, in Idlib governorate, Syria May 31, 2019. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi - RC1525F30880](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2019/06/RTX6XCWQ.jpg/RTX6XCWQ.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=ZTgCrH5k)
A “disaster unfolding” in Idlib
With attention focused on the US-Iran confrontation in the Gulf, Russian President Vladimir Putin is scrambling to prevent a conflict between Turkey and Syria over Idlib, which is already a massive international crisis.