Escalation in Idlib: Turkey is pushing hundreds of military vehicles and chatting with a Russian delegation in Ankara

On Saturday, the Turkish army sent massive reinforcements to its units deployed on the borders with Syria and in the areas of reducing tension in Idlib and rural Aleppo, while the Syrian regime and Russia continue to bomb these areas.

Al-Jazeera correspondent in Syria stated that a number of civilians were injured in Russian and Syrian air strikes on areas in the countryside of Aleppo, in parallel with the continued progress of the regime forces on several axes driven by heavy Russian air cover, and artillery shelling in the areas in front of it after they took control of Saraqib.

The Syrian News Agency (SANA) said that during the past 24 hours, the army forces took control of six villages, including Zaitan and Barnah in the southern countryside of Aleppo, and Mahariem and Tal Karatin in the eastern Idlib countryside.

Turkish reinforcements
In the same context, the Turkish army sent a large boost today, Saturday, to its units deployed on the border with Syria, and the convoy - which included reinforcements sent from different units, to Al-Rayhaniyah district in the southern Hatay state - included more than 300 military vehicles.

The convoy headed towards the units stationed on the border with Syria, amid security measures.

And moved the elements of the special forces (commando), which was sent to Al-Rihaniya previously, with the convoy to the border units, after completing its preparations.

Al-Jazeera correspondent said that the number of Turkish military vehicles that entered Idlib governorate yesterday reached 250, including armored vehicles and tanks, in addition to artillery, soldiers' carriers and medical and logistical equipment.

The Turkish Ministry of Defense confirmed the continuation of its control points in its work in northern Syria, and vowed a strong response to any attack targeting it.

"About 450 Turkish vehicles, most of them armored vehicles, tanks, and other cars, entered over the past few hours," German news agency quoted an opposition military commander as saying, noting that about 300 military vehicles entered yesterday evening and 150 cars at dawn today.

Turkey has set up 12 observation points in Idlib to repel any attack by the Syrian regime forces, in accordance with an agreement with Russia, Assad's most prominent ally.

Discussions in Ankara
In parallel with these field developments, Turkish-Russian talks began in the Turkish Foreign Ministry in the capital, Ankara, to discuss the latest developments in Idlib.

The Turkish delegation will be headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Saadat Unal, while the Russian delegation will be headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vercinin.

Turkey and Russia have worked closely in recent years to find a solution to the situation in Idlib, despite the fact that both sides have taken opposing positions on the war in Syria.

The military developments in Idlib led to a continuous wave of displacement as a result of the battles, where the Syrian "response coordinators" organization said that more than 400,000 civilians have been displaced from their towns and villages in the Idlib countryside and Aleppo towards the borders with Turkey since mid-January last as a result of the military escalation.

The organization called on the relief agencies to help the displaced people who are living in extremely difficult conditions, and also warned of a major wave of displacement if the military action continues towards the center of Idlib governorate.