CORRECTS - Iraqi, Iranian, Syrian officials hold trilateral talks on regional developments

CORRECTS TITLE OF IRANIAN OFFICIAL

By Rasa Evrensel

ISTANBUL (AA) - A trilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of Iraq, Iran, and Syria convened on Friday in Baghdad to discuss the ongoing Syrian crisis.

The meeting included Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh.

According to Iraq’s official news agency INA, the talks took place at the Iraqi Foreign Ministry in Baghdad, although no further details were immediately provided.

The discussions come at a critical time, with Syrian opposition factions engaging in clashes with regime forces in several regions since Nov. 27.

The anti-regime forces have gained control of Idlib province in the north and most of Aleppo province, advancing into Hama in central Syria and captured it as of Thursday after extensive clashes for days.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi