It is “out of the question” for Turkey to evacuate its military observation posts in Syria’s Idlib, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Tuesday, after Russian and Syrian forces intensified their bombardment of targets in the northwestern province.
Turkey has 12 such posts in Idlib, and at home it hosts some 3.7 million Syrian refugees, the largest refugee population in the world. It fears another wave from the region, where up to 3 million Syrians live in the last significant rebel-held swathe of territory after a nearly nine year civil war.
Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to recapture Idlib, prompting a recent wave of refugees towards Turkey’s border.
Also Read
-
Turkey says will not withdraw from army posts in Syria’s Idlib
Turkey will not withdraw from its observation posts in Syrian opposition bastion province of Idlib which has seen an increase in violence carried out ... Middle East -
Scores in Turkey protest Russia over Idlib assault
Several hundred Turkish and Syrian protesters held an anti-Russia demonstration in Istanbul on Saturday against intensified Russian and regime ... Middle East -
Syrian opposition calls on the world to aid Idlib
A Syrian opposition leader called Friday on the international community to help millions of civilians in the country’s last opposition-held ... Middle East
