February 2020. Turkey will not let Syria’s government gain more ground in the opposition stronghold of Idlib province, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says. Mr Erdogan told reporters that Russian-backed pro-government forces were “driving innocent and grieving people in Idlib towards our borders”. More than half a million civilians have fled their homes since the government launched an offensive in December. Mr Erdogan’s warning came after eight Turkish military personnel were killed. Turkey’s defence ministry said seven soldiers and one civilian died in Idlib on Monday when they were shelled by the Syrian army despite being told of their position. In response, Turkish forces “neutralised” 76 Syrian soldiers, it added. Syrian state media said there were no casualties. But the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, reported that at least 13 soldiers were killed by Turkish fire in Idlib and neighbouring Latakia and Hama provinces. The Turkish military has deployed troops to Idlib to monitor a 2017 de-escalation agreement brokered by Turkey and Russia that has been repeatedly violated. It was hoped the agreement would avert a government assault that the UN said threatened to create the worst humanitarian catastrophe of the 21st Century. “Syria is right now trying to buy time by driving those innocent and grieving people in Idlib toward our borders,” Mr Erdogan was quoted as saying by Turkish media. “We will not allow Syria the opportunity to gain ground there.” The president also said Turkey and Russia – who back opposing sides in Syria’s nine-year civil war – should seek to resolve their differences.
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