Thursday, March 12, 2020

Turkey says its forces will remain in Syria’s Idlib despite truce




A Turkish military tank is seen in a destroyed neighborhood of Sarmin town, Idlib Province, Syria, on March 10, 2020.

Source: Press TV

Turkey says its military personnel will stay in Idlib Province despite a ceasefire deal with Russia, and that any withdrawal from the embattled Syrian region is “out of the question.”

Speaking on Thursday, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar stressed that Turkish and Russian officials had largely agreed on details of the Idlib truce during talks in Ankara.

“The meetings with the Russian delegation continue and an agreement was reached to a large extent,” he said.

Akar also rejected reports of the Turkish troops’ pullout from Idlib, saying, “Our elements maintain their presence.”

“Our units are on the field; a withdrawal is out of the question,” he added.

Idlib tensions mounted late last month after an airstrike by Syrian forces killed dozens of Turkish soldiers, whom Russia said were “in the battle formations of terrorist groups.”

Shortly afterwards, Ankara waged its fourth incursion into Syria, dubbed Spring Shield, which escalated Idlib tensions.

On March 5, Russia and Turkey agreed on a ceasefire to stop clashes in Idlib, the only large territory in the hands of terrorists after the Syrian military managed to undo militant gains across the Arab country.

Under the deal, the two countries are required to establish a secure corridor along a key east-west highway in Idlib and hold joint patrols there as of March 15.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Turkish defense minister said his country would continue its military offensive in Idlib if the ceasefire is violated.

“Our forces have been ordered to act accordingly if the ceasefire is violated and attacks continue. Everyone is ready at any moment … We will continue to restart where we left off and hurt them (Syrian government forces),” Akar pointed out.

Syria launched a counter-terrorism operation in Idlib last December after its troops and those of Russia came under increasing attacks by militants based in the province.

The Syrian army gains, however, coincided with a massive deployment of troops and military equipment by Turkey, which is evidently upset by changing conditions on the ground.


No comments:

Post a Comment

Thanks for commenting on this post. Please consider sharing it on Facebook or Twitter for a wider discussion.

WikiLeaks Co-Founder Julian Assange Released from UK Prison

Russian / Ukraine War - (June 25, 2024)

CrossTalk | NATO Chooses War - (May 29th, 2024)

Pepe Escobar: Eurasia vs. Natostan is the Defining Struggle of Our Time (Apr - 11th, 2024)

Geopolitical Storm Brewing from Palestine to Ukraine

We don’t want war with Israel, but if they impose it on us, we are ready – Hezbollah

ICJ delivers ruling in favour of South Africa

South Africa's Closing Argument Against Israel for Genocide at the ICJ

Shahid Bolsen - Message to the Israeli people

Roger Waters - To Whom It May Concern: Please Stop.

How the US Global Order is Challenged - With Pepe Escobar (Nov 20, 2023)

Putin shows treaty on Ukraine’s neutrality, signed by Kiev but dumped under Western pressure

Totalitarianism, Censorship and Syria with Peter Lavelle, Vanessa Beeley & Kevork Almassian

Assad's speech at the Arab League Summit - what it means for the future of the region

Assad returns to Arab League

HUGE China brokered deal, Iran & Saudi Arabia restore diplomatic ties

Nord Stream pipeline & sabotaging peace w/Jeffrey Sachs

The Tragedy of Ukraine

Historical Events that Led to the Start of the Ukraine Conflict

Your Wars Will Destroy the Planet - Roger Waters

Healthy Athletes suffer Heart Problems After Getting the Jab