Syrian regime forces in Idlib must pull back behind a line of Turkish observation posts by the end of this month, Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday, warning that if they did not withdraw Turkey would drive them back.
Speaking two days after eight Turkish military personnel were killed by shelling in Idlib, prompting Turkish retaliation, Erdogan said two of the Turkish posts were now behind the Syrian regime front line.
Eight Turkish troops and civilians were killed Monday by regime fire in Idlib -- the last opposition bastion in the conflict-torn country.
Turkey killed at least 13 Syrian government troops in response, according to monitors, in the deadliest clashes since Ankara sent troops to Syria in 2016.
Erdogan has criticised Russia, a key backer of Bashar al-Assad's regime, for failing to enforce peace agreements in the region and called for Moscow to "better understand our sensitivities in Syria".
"From now we will not turn a blind eye to any step that constitutes the violation of the agreements," he added.
Erdogan said this week's clashes amounted to a "new era" in Syria, and that any further attacks would be "responded to in kind".
"The air and ground elements of the Turkish armed forces will freely move in the Idlib region and if needed will launch an operation," he said.
As part of the 2018 Sochi deal with Moscow, Turkey set up 12 observation posts in Idlib, one of which was surrounded by Assad's forces in December.
Reuters
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