Erdogan threatens to launch ‘imminent’ operation in Syria’s Idlib province

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to launch operation in war-torn Idlib province of Syria if regime forces fail to withdraw behind Turkish military positions. Speaking to his parliamentary group in Ankara, Erdogan warned Damascus that it’s just a matter of time that Turkish troops launch operation in Idlib.

According to media reports, Erdogan said that an operation in Idlib is imminent and that y are counting down and making final warnings. Ankara, who supports several rebel groups in region and wants to stop refugee influx in Turkey, has been furious after 13 Turkish soldiers were killed in an attack by Syrian regime forces backed by Russia. Erdogan h recently warned that his military would strike Russian-backed Syrian forces if ar Turkish soldier gets hurt.

Immediately reacting to warning, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reportedly said that if statement regarding ‘operation’ was me against ‘legitimate authorities’ of Syria and ir armed forces, n this would be worst scenario.

Accusations of violating Sochi agreement

Russia and Turkey have been accusing each or of ceasefire violations and offensive in Idlib province. In a conference call last week,  Peskov h told reporters that Turkish side is carrying out strikes on Syrian forces and taking aggressive action against Russia’s military facilities. He ded that it was unacceptable to Sochi agreements in which two parties h agreed to create a de-militarised zone in Idlib.

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Syrian NGO Alliance has been trying to draw attention of United Nations towards ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria. On February 10, NGO alliance wrote to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to highlight “gruesome military attack” from Syrian regime and its Russian allies in rthwest Syria that has killed “hundreds of civilians”. 

“Amid powerless on part of international community, what area is experiencing seems as re is a green light for war machine to carry on with impunity claiming lives of children and incent people,” wrote human rights vocacy group.

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(With ncy inputs)