Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised development of the situation in the Syrian province of Idlib

Tccb.gov.tr

Erdogan acknowledged the deaths in Idlib three Turkish soldiers were killed in the airstrike, while stressing that the loss of Syrian Pro-government forces many times more

Tccb.gov.tr

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday welcomed the development of the situation in Syria’s Idlib province, according to Sabah. “The events in North-West Syria in Idlib at the moment are developed in favor of Turkey”, – quotes “Interfax” words of the President.

“The regime (of Syrian President Bashar. – Approx. “Interfax”) Assad fully would cease to exist if it did not have the support of Russia”, – he said. However, he did not develop the idea and to say whether Ankara to confrontation with Russia to overthrow Assad.

Erdogan acknowledged the deaths in Idlib three Turkish soldiers were killed in the airstrike, while stressing that the loss of Syrian Pro-government forces many times greater. He noted that Ankara may not have friendly relations with the Assad regime because of the death of his fault hundreds of thousands of Syrians.

Erdogan also touched on the situation in Libya. “Thanks to the efforts of Turkey, the situation in Libya has changed in favor of a recognized government of that country”, – quotes its words Agency “Anadolu”.

At the moment Turkey completed the preparations for a military operation in the area of de-escalation in Idlib, said the press Secretary of the ruling Party of justice and development of Turkey Omer Celik. “At the expiration of the period allotted to the regime of Bashar al-Assad to withdraw troops outside the zone are limited to the Sochi agreements, the Turkish armed forces will fulfill their mission,” said çelik.

On Wednesday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed his intention before the end of February to achieve the withdrawal of government forces of Syria beyond the zone of de-escalation.

According to Celik, determination of Ankara in relation to the situation in Idlib is absolute, unwavering and uncompromising. “Approval on the necessity of deployment of troops in the zone of de-escalation with the aim of ensuring the security meaningless. From the point of view of Turkey to change the status-quo in North-West Syria is unacceptable and that should take Russia”, – he said.

“The actions of Assad violating the Sochi agreement. The last word in this issue, of course, will put the meeting of the presidents of Turkey and Russia,” – said Celik.

He said that Ankara and Moscow agree on the final date of the meeting of the presidents of Turkey and Russia. “Turkey has declared its readiness to hold a meeting in the very near future. The outcome of the negotiations will be detailed steps on Syria,” – said Celik.

In September 2018, the Russian Federation and Turkey signed a Memorandum of Sochi to stabilize the situation in Idlib. The parties then agreed to establish in this Syrian province of the demilitarized zone depth of 15-20 km and not be in the region of a military operation. In accordance with the agreements Turkey has created in Idlib 12 observation posts.

In October 2019, Russia and Turkey signed a joint Memorandum of understanding of the ten points marked the beginning of a joint Russian-the Turkish patrol in the North of Syria.

However, as stated in Ankara, some Turkish observation posts were subjected to shelling by Syrian government forces launched an offensive in Idlib. Turkey has accused Syrian troops and their allies in attacks on civilian objects and the position of the Turkish military in Idlib, and demanded that Damascus withdraw forces from the zone of de-escalation. The Russian military, in turn, said that the Syrian army responded to militant attacks.

February 19, Erdogan demanded from Damascus in the coming days to withdraw its forces to positions from which it launched an offensive in Idlib, threatening otherwise to open a full-scale military action in Northern Syria.

On 27 February the defence Ministry of Turkey reported that two Turkish soldiers were killed and two were wounded in an airstrike in Idlib province. In response, Turkish forces bombed two anti-aircraft missile systems (SAMS), the three tanks and machines from the Syrian army, as well as “neutralized” 114 Syrian soldiers, reports RBC.