Turkey’s defense minister said the military would strike rebel groups violating a ceasefire in Syria's Idlib region, in an apparent response to Russia criticism over failure to put a stop to the fighting
ANKARA - Turkey will use force against rebel groups violating a ceasefire in Syria’s northwest Idlib region, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Thursday, in an apparent response to Russian criticism.
Russia, which supports Assad, in turn accused Turkey of flouting agreements it made with Moscow and of aggravating the situation in Idlib. The Kremlin said Ankara had failed to neutralize militants there, as per a 2018 agreement to establish a de-escalation zone. The flare-up of fighting has given rise to some of the most serious confrontations between Ankara and Damascus in the nine-year-old war that, since early December in Idlib alone, has displaced hundreds of thousands.
A Turkish official told Reuters: “Talks are being held with Russia to make sure tensions don’t flare more.” Yet he added rebels backed by Turkish artillery had in recent days retaken territory previously lost in Idlib.
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