- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Defence Chiefs of US, Turkey Discuss Situation in Idlib - Ankara

© AP Photo / Emrah GurelIn this photo taken from the Turkish side of the border between Turkey and Syria, in Suruc, southeastern Turkey, a U.S forces outpost is seen on a hilltop outside Ayn Al Arab or Kobani, Syria, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019.
In this photo taken from the Turkish side of the border between Turkey and Syria, in Suruc, southeastern Turkey, a U.S forces outpost is seen on a hilltop outside Ayn Al Arab or Kobani, Syria, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019.  - Sputnik International
Subscribe
ANKARA (Sputnik) - Syrian government forces have launched an offensive in the Idlib province to recapture pockets of the region controlled by terrorists. Violence in the region has increased amid tit-for-tat strikes between government troops and Turkish units that maintain observation posts in northwest Syria.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper have discussed the situation in the Syrian province of Idlib, the Turkish Defence Ministry said on Thursday.

"Our minister and his US colleague discussed over the phone the solution to the problem in Idlib, first of all, exchanged opinions on bilateral regional issues and discussed defence and security," the ministry said.

Tensions escalated in Idlib province after the Syrian military shelled a Turkish observation post on February 3, killing six military personnel and one civilian contractor. Turkey responded with a number of retaliatory strikes, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Friday that some 150 Syrian soldiers have been killed.

Ankara has requested two Patriot batteries from the US to repel attacks by Syrian troops in Idlib. A Pentagon official revealed last week that the US had not yet made a decision to approve the request, adding that negotiations on the situation in Idlib continued.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said earlier this week that he had not yet received needed support from the United States regarding the situation in Syria's Idlib, expressing the desire to discuss this once again with US President Donald Trump.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала