DAMASCUS, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in the capital Damascus Monday to hold talks with President Bashar al-Assad ahead of a tripartite meeting between Turkey, Iran, and Russia on the situation in Syria on Friday.
Speaking to reporters upon arriving, Zarif said the militants of the Levant Liberation Committee (LLC), otherwise known as the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, must leave Syria's Idlib province, the last major rebel bastion in Syria.
His visit comes as Turkey, Iran, and Russia are set to meet in Tehran on Friday to discuss the Syrian situation, particularly in Idlib province in northwestern Syria.
The Syrian army, backed by both Iran and Russia, has been amassing forces to launch a wide-scale campaign to eradicate the ultra-radical groups in Idlib.
Turkey's role is essential as Ankara has a considerable sway over the rebels in Idlib, and has recently declared the LLC, or Nusra Front, as a terror organization after failing to convince this group to dissolve itself.
Zarif said in Damascus that the summit that will take place in Tehran on Friday will discuss ways to confront the extremist groups, including the Nusra Front.
He said the meeting in Tehran will also discuss coordination to continue the political process and the counter-terrorism in Syria.
"After the victories achieved by the resistance front (Syria, Iran, Hezbollah) against the extremist groups in Syria, it's about time to rebuild this country and the countries of the strategic alliance with Syria are contributing to this matter," Zarif said.
For his side, Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said that the liberation of Idlib is the major subject at the tripartite summit in Tehran.
"Russia, Iran, and Turkey are the guarantor countries to the Astana process that's why they have an important role, and this indicates the importance of the tripartite meeting. We are sure that the main goal of this summit will be the case of liberating Idlib and this is what the Syrian people are awaiting," he told Russia Today.
The three countries have backed the Astana process for Syria and agreed to establish de-escalation zones, with Idlib being one of them.
But the situation in Idlib has escalated with the presence of ultra-radical groups such as the Nusra Front, which also prevents other rebel factions from accepting a reconciliation deal with the government.
Additionally, the severe state of lawlessness was another reason why the Idlib operation should take place.
For the Syrian government, achieving reconciliation in Idlib was a priority, but the ultra-radical groups are rejecting such deals, giving the first choice for a military option in Idlib.
