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.
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