Syria: UK foreign minister to stop in Turkey on Gulf trip amid rising tensions

Dominic Raab met with new Omani Sultan on Monday to discuss ties

Turkish-backed Syrian fighter loads ammunition at a frontline near the town of Saraqib in Idlib province, Syria. AP Photo

Turkey-backed Syrian fighters load their weapons at a position on outskirts of the villages of Afis and Salihiyah nearSaraqib in northwestern Syria. AFP

A Turkey-backed Syrian fighter fires a truck-mounted gun toward the town of Saraqeb from the outskirts of the villages of Afis and Salihiyah. AFP

Turkey-backed Syrian fighters load their weapon at a position on outskirts of the villages of Afis and Salihiyah. AFP

Internally displaced Syrian children walk near the wall in Atmah IDP camp, located near the border with Turkey, in Syria. Reuters

An internally displaced Syrian family sit together outside a tent near the wall in Atmeh IDP camp. Reuters

Internally displaced Syrian boy stands outside a tent near the wall in Atmeh IDP camp. Reuters

Clothes are hanged on a rope to dry near the wall in Atmah IDP camp. Reuters

An internally displaced Syrian boy walks near the wall in Atmah IDP camp. Reuters

A view of the Atmeh IDP camp, located near the border with Turkey, in Syria. Reuters

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.

"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.

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.”