Turkey's Erdoğan says trilateral summit in Ankara will bring new dimensions to Astana process for Syria

A trilateral summit in Ankara between Turkey, Russia, and Iran will bring new dimensions to the Astana process for Syria, the Turkish president said on Monday.

"I believe that the Ankara summit will bring a new dimension to Astana process," Erdoğan told reporters ahead of a trilateral meeting on Syria with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Erdoğan said the Astana platform on Syria was a "unique attempt" to find effective solutions for Syria.

He added that Turkey stood with the Syrian people during the "most difficult and most painful" times.

During the summit, Erdoğan said the presidents would discuss Idlib, Syria, developments east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria, and migration.

Turkey, Russia and Iran need to take more responsibility to establish peace in Syria, Erdoğan said in his comments to reporters ahead of three-way talks with his Russian and Iranian counterparts at a summit in Ankara.

He also said the three countries would carry the fight against terror to another level by "eliminating terrorists in Syria east of the Euphrates River."

During the summit, Erdoğan said the presidents would discuss Idlib, Syria, developments east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria, and migration.

He added that Turkey stood with the Syrian people during the "most difficult and most painful" times.

Touching on an attack Sunday on a hospital in Aleppo, Erdoğan said this attack once again showed terrorism's "brutal face."

At least 12 civilians were killed and dozens injured in the car bomb attack in the town of Çobanbey in Syria's Aleppo province near the Turkish border.