ANKARA – Erdogan Threats Retaliation In Idlib. President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday, said that his country will not shy away from even stronger military action in Idlib if last week’s truce doesn’t last.
According to details, Turkey and Russia agreed on a ceasefire to stop escalating clashes in Idlib. It brought the two countries close to direct confrontation and displaced almost a million people. In a speech to lawmakers from his AK Party in parliament, Erdogan said there had been small violations of the ceasefire. Turkey’s priority was the safety of the 12 observation posts which it has established in the region.
In recent weeks, Russia-backed Syrian government forces intensified their campaign to retake Idlib, the last rebel-held stronghold in the country. That prompted Turkey, which backs some rebels looking to oust Assad, to mount a counter-offensive to repel their advances.
A Russian delegation came to Ankara on Tuesday for talks on details of the agreement. The two sides will finalise it by next week. Meanwhile, the deal establishes a security corridor and joint patrols along a key east-west highway in Idlib. Erdogan Threats Retaliation In Idlib.
Turkey’s Defence Ministry later said the second day of talks with the Russian delegation had begun in Ankara. While the ceasefire meets Turkey’s most pressing concern – stopping a fresh influx of migrants from Idlib – it cements recent Syrian government advances and allows Russia to move further north than they have been able to before.