Idlib: Turkey warns against targeting observation points, and Russia and the regime continue to bomb land and air

The Turkish Ministry of Defense confirmed today that its forces will respond strongly to any new attack against its observation points in Idlib, Syria. This coincides with the continued intense artillery shelling and air raids of Russia and the regime in towns in Idlib countryside, causing a number of injuries.

This also coincided with the announcement by the Syrian regime forces to enter the city of Saraqib, and violent clashes with opposition factions backed by Turkish artillery in the vicinity of the city.

Violent battles also took place between the opposition factions and the regime forces when the latter attempted to advance on the southern and western Aleppo countryside.

In a statement, the Turkish Ministry of Defense stated that its forces will continue their duties at the control points in Idlib, and that they are able to protect themselves through the weapons, equipment and military capabilities that they possess.

"We will respond again in the most forceful manner within the framework of the right to legitimate self-defense, in the event of any new attack."

Seven Turkish soldiers were killed last Monday due to intense artillery shelling of the Syrian regime forces at one of the Turkish observation points in Idlib governorate, and the Turkish authorities confirmed at the time that they responded to the attack by targeting 40 locations of the regime forces, killing 35 of the perpetrators of the attack, which Damascus denied.

On the other hand, the armed Syrian opposition said that it repelled an attempt to advance the regime's forces and militias on the axis of the city of Zerba in the southern Aleppo countryside and other axes in the western Aleppo countryside and the eastern Idlib countryside. Meanwhile, the Syrian News Agency (SANA) reported that during the past 24 hours, the regime forces had taken control of six villages.

Military reinforcements
The Turkish army continues to push military convoys into Syrian territory, establishing a new observation point in the Idlib area, according to Al-Jazeera correspondent.

The reporter added 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.

These developments coincide with the continuing wave of displacement resulting from the battles, where the Syrian "Coordinators of Response" 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.