Britain's foreign secretary will visit Ankara on Tuesday as part of a Middle East trip to address humanitarian concerns in Syria's Idlib region as tension rises between Turkey and Damascus.
Dominic Raab is expected to “reaffirm” Britain’s friendship with Nato ally Turkey amid what he called the Syrian government’s “reckless offensive in Idlib”.
Clashes in the north-west of the country between the regime and Turkish-backed forces have sent about a million displaced people rushing to Turkey's border.
“Turkey is on the frontline of some of the most difficult and serious challenges we face with the Syrian regime and Russian forces continuing to escalate the violence on its border,” Mr Raab said.
-
Migrants walk towards the Greek border in Pazarkule, in the Edirne district. Thousands of migrants stuck on the Turkey-Greece border clashed with Greek police. AFP -
Children sit on a beach near Skala Sykamineas on the Greek Lesbos island after crossing the Aegean sea between Turkey and Greece. AFP -
Migrants help each other after an attempt to enter Greece from a location near Edirne, Turkey, by crossing the Maritsa river. AFP -
Migrants walk towards the Greek border in Pazarkule, in the Edirne district. AFP -
Migrants on a dinghy cross the Evros river to reach Greece, pictured from the Turkish border city of Edirne, Turkey. Reuters -
Migrants carry a dinghy to cross the Evros river to reach Greece, pictured near the Turkish border city of Edirne, Turkey. Reuters -
Migrants gather around a fire as they wait to cross the Evros river to reach Greece, near Doyran Village, near the Turkish border city of Edirne, Turkey. Reuters -
A group of migrants are detained after being caught by police on the side of the highway near the Greek-Turkish border. Getty Images -
Migrants on a dinghy cross the Evros river and reach Greece, pictured from the Turkish border city of Edirne, Turkey. Reuters -
Migrants walk along the Evros river to reach Greece, near the Turkish border city of Edirne, Turkey. Reuters -
Migrants sit waiting near the buffer zone at Turkey-Greece border, at Pazarkule, in Edirne district. AFP -
A migrant passes to the buffer zone during clashes with Greek police at the Turkey-Greece border, at Pazarkule, in Edirne distric. Thousands of migrants stuck on the Turkey-Greece border clashed with Greek police. AFP -
A migrant walk towards the Greek border in Pazarkule, in the Edirne district. AFP
"We have been clear in our condemnation of the Syrian regime's actions in Idlib and we will continue to raise concerns about its flagrant violations of international law," he said.
In his first visit to the Arabian Gulf region since becoming UK Foreign Secretary, Mr Raab arrived in Oman on Monday morning to offer his condolences for the recently deceased ruler Sultan Qaboos.
Mr Raab said he would be talking to Omani officials about deepening their "exceptionally strong relationship". He also met the new leader of Oman, Sultan Haitham.
-
Omanis bid farewell to their leader during the funeral procession for Sultan Qaboos. AFP / Oman TV -
People attend a funeral service for Sultan Qaboos, at the Grand Mosque that bears his name in Muscat. Oman TV via AP -
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, left, offers condolences to Sultan Haitham in Muscat. MBZ/Twitter -
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed with Sultan Haitham. Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Prayers and funeral rites are held for Sultan Qaboos. AFP / Oman TV -
Oman's newly sworn-in Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said carries the coffin of his cousin, Sultan Qaboos, during the funeral in Muscat. Reuters -
Members of the Omani military carry the coffin of Sultan Qaboos. AFP -
Omanis take part in the funeral of Sultan Qaboos at the Grand Mosque in the capital Muscat. AFP -
The coffin is carried to the Grand Mosque. Oman TV via AP -
Sultan Haitham arrives at the Grand Mosque for the funeral. AFP / Oman TV -
A motorcade carries the body of Sultan Qaboos. Oman TV via AP -
Sultan Qaboos had ruled Oman for almost 50 years, after coming to power in 1970. Oman TV via AP -
People gather in front of the Sultan Qaboos Mosque to perform funeral prayers. AFP -
The streets of Muscat were packed as Omanis grieved over the death of Sultan Qaboos. AFP -
Authorities declared a 40-day mourning period in the country. AFP -
Omanis gather to enter the Sultan Qaboos Mosque to perform funeral prayers. AFP -
People walk towards the Sultan Qaboos Mosque to perform the funeral prayers. AFP -
The Omani flag is seen at half-mast in the capital Muscat. AFP
Britain has worked closely with Oman and nearby countries amid a surge in tension with Iran in the Gulf.
Omani-British military exercises are a regular occurrence and in 2018 the UK announced it would open a new military base in Oman, sending hundreds more troops to the area.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the country's future king, Prince Charles, were among those who travelled in January after the death of Sultan Qaboos.
"The UK is a proud friend and partner of Oman, which has a strong legacy of promoting peace and stability in the wider region," the British Foreign Office said.
Mr Raab will head to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for talks with senior Saudi figures and Yemeni President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi.
The UK Foreign Minister will meet with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan. They are expected to discuss Saudi Arabia's current presidency of the G20.
“The Gulf is important to UK security, but it's also a region of enormous opportunity. Both Oman and Saudi Arabia want to grow in sectors such as health, education and culture where the UK leads the world,” Mr Raab said.
“I look forward to discussing trade, regional security, climate change and human rights in this pivotal region.”
