Turkish FM Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu
The Syrian regime should not play with fire, Turkey's foreign minister said Tuesday, a day after a Turkish convoy in Syria was attacked.
Speaking at a joint press conference with his counterpart of El Salvador, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said: "We are in constant contact with Russia with regards to ensuring peace in Idlib. We need to implement the cease-fire here. The regime is trying to force a military solution."
"The regime should not play with fire. We will do whatever is necessary for the security of our own soldiers and observation posts," he added.
Three civilians were killed and 12 more wounded Monday after regime air strikes hit near a Turkish military convoy that was heading to an observation post in Syria.
The convoy was heading to Observatory Point No. 9 in Syria’s Idlib, and Russia had been told in advance about the convoy.
The observation post, located 88 kilometers (55 miles) from the Turkey-Syria border, was established in Arpil 2018.
The province of Idlib -- one of the most targeted areas by the regime forces -- has been a stronghold of opposition since the beginning of the civil war in Syria. Its population has reached four million due to internal migration.
Three civilians were killed and 12 more wounded after regime air strikes hit near a Turkish military convoy that was heading to an observation post in Syria, Turkey's Defense Ministry said Monday."We strongly condemn this attack that contradicts existing agreements, cooperation, dialogue with Russia," the statement read.The convoy was heading to Observatory Point No. 9 in Syria’s Idlib, and Russia had been told in advance about the convoy, it added.The observation post, located 88 kilometers (55 miles) from the Turkey-Syria border, was established in Arpil 2018.The province of Idlib -- one of the most targeted areas by the regime forces -- has been a stronghold of opposition since the beginning of the civil war in Syria. Its population has reached four million due to internal migration.Giving birth during war: Syrian mothersTurkish police detain 418 people across 29 provinces in PKK probeThe Astana peace process, aimed at ending the Syrian conflict, was launched in January 2017 by Russia and Iran, allies of the regime, and Turkey. So far 13 rounds of talks have been conducted in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan.Last September, in the Russian city of Sochi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed to set up a demilitarized zone -- in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited -- in Idlib.Under the deal, opposition groups in Idlib were supposed to remain in areas, where they were already present. Russia and Turkey were to carry out joint patrols in the area, to prevent resumption of fighting.On Oct. 10, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced that the Syrian opposition and other anti-regime groups had completed the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the Idlib demilitarized zone.Despite the cease-fire agreement, the Assad regime and its allies continued their low-intensity attacks on Idlib’s de-escalation zone.The conflict in Syria began in 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million others displaced, according to UN officials.
Turkey says 3 civilians killed, 12 wounded after air strikes hit Turkish convoy in Syria
Turkey retaliated against Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) harassment fire in Syria's Tel Rifaat, the country's defense ministry said Monday.According to a Twitter post by the ministry, PKK/YPG elements shelled Turkish posts in the Euphrates Shield region.Fırat Kalkanı Harekât bölgesinde görev yapan unsurlarımıza Tel Rıfat’taki PKK/YPG’li teröristlerce yapılan saldırı ve taciz ateşlerine bölgede bulunan ateş destek vasıtalarımızla gerekli karşılık verilmiş, teröristlere ait tespit edilen hedefler vurulmuştur.— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) August 19, 2019 Since 2016, Turkey has conducted two major military operations in northwestern Syria -- Operations Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch -- to purge the region of terrorist groups Daesh and the YPG, which is the Syrian branch of the terrorist organization PKK.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including many women and children.PKK bombing martyrs one in southeast TurkeyTurkish police detain 418 people across 29 provinces in PKK probeTurkey replaces three HDP mayors with suspected ties to PKK terror group
Turkey retaliates against PKK harassment fire in Syria's Tel Rifaat
The Astana peace process, aimed at ending the Syrian conflict, was launched in January 2017 by Russia and Iran, allies of the regime, and Turkey. So far 13 rounds of talks have been conducted in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan.
Last September, in the Russian city of Sochi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed to set up a demilitarized zone -- in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited -- in Idlib.
Under the deal, opposition groups in Idlib were supposed to remain in areas, where they were already present. Russia and Turkey were to carry out joint patrols in the area, to prevent resumption of fighting.
On Oct. 10, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced that the Syrian opposition and other anti-regime groups had completed the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the Idlib demilitarized zone.
Despite the cease-fire agreement, the Assad regime and its allies continued their low-intensity attacks on Idlib’s de-escalation zone.
The conflict in Syria began in 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.
Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million others displaced, according to UN officials.
Syrian opposition fighters withdrew from a town in southern Idlib province and from their last remaining territory in neighbouring Hama province after government troops advances in the area, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.Syrian government forces, backed by Russia, had advanced into the town of Khan Sheikhoun in southern Idlib late on Monday. The town had been in opposition hands since 2014. The opposition's territorial foothold in neighbouring Hama province dates back to the earliest days of the eight-year-long conflict.
Syrian opposition withdraws from area in NW after government advance: Observatory
Six civilians were killed in a regime airstrike in the de-escalation zone in northwestern Syria on Monday, according to the White Helmets civil defense agency.Three people were killed in the town of Maarat Al-Numan and three in the town of Hesh, Mustafa Haj Youssef, director of the White Helmets in Idlib, told Anadolu Agency.Turkey and Russia agreed last September to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone where acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.The Syrian regime and its allies, however, have consistently broken the terms of the cease-fire, launching frequent attacks inside the de-escalation zone.The de-escalation zone is currently inhabited by about 4 million civilians, including hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the regime forces from cities and towns throughout the war-weary country in recent years.Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million others displaced, according to UN officials.
Regime, Russian airstrikes kill 6 in Idlib, Syria
The U.S. called on the Syrian regime and its allied forces Monday to immediately halt all hostilities in northwestern Syria's Idlib province after an airstrike on a Turkish convoy killed three civilians and injured 12 others."The Assad regime and its allies must return to the ceasefire in #Idlib now," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said on Twitter."Today’s reckless airstrike on a Turkish convoy follows ongoing vicious attacks against civilians, humanitarian workers, and infrastructure. We condemn this violence and it must end."Earlier Monday, a troop transfer to Idlib was initiated by the Turkish military to ensure the safety of an observation post, to keep supply routes open and prevent civilian casualties in the region, according to Turkey's Defense Ministry.The ministry strongly condemned the airstrike, saying it "violates existing agreements, cooperation and dialogue with Russia".Turkey and Russia agreed last September to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone where acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.The Syrian regime and its allies, however, have consistently broken the terms of the ceasefire, launching frequent attacks inside the area.The de-escalation zone is currently inhabited by about four million civilians, including hundreds of thousands of people displaced by regime forces from cities and towns throughout the war-weary country.Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million others displaced during the course of Syria's more than eight-year conflict, according to the UN.
US condemns 'reckless airstrike' on Turkish convoy in Syria