Turkey's Retaliation Against Syrian Regime, Potential Idlib Deal with Russia

(Patria) - Turkish military forces in Syria destroyed air defense systems, more than a hundred tanks, and shot down two Syrian army aircraft in the 'Spring Shield' operation launched after 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in airstrikes last week.

The deaths of Turkish soldiers intensified fighting in Idlib, and heightened tensions between Turkey and Syria, bringing them into direct confrontation.

So far, negotiations between Ankara and Moscow have not led to a reduction in tensions or a ceasefire in Idlib - the last rebel stronghold in Syria.

Turkey has intensified attacks on the Syrian army since Thursday - in the Spring Shield operation, by Sunday, 8 helicopters, 103 tanks, 19 armored personnel carriers, 72 rifles, howitzers, 3 air defense systems, 56 armored vehicles, and 9 ammunition depots were destroyed, and more than 2,000 Assad's soldiers lost their lives.

Turkish Minister of Defense Hulusi Akar claims that Turkey 'has no intention of confronting Russia. Our only intention there is for the Syrian regime to stop the massacre, which will stop radicalization and migration.'

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu reported on Saturday on the progress in negotiations between the Turkish and Russian delegations, but stressed that the issue of Idlib can only be resolved by Presidents Erdogan and Putin personally.

Although not officially announced, such a meeting is expected to take place as early as Thursday in Moscow, and it is also expected to result in an agreement on Idlib.