Turkey has sent troops and armoured vehicles to reinforce posts in north-western Syria, a monitoring group said Wednesday, amid fears in Ankara of an impending offensive by Syrian forces near the Turkish border.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Turkish reinforcements, including trucks carrying construction materials and concrete walls, have arrived in parts of Idlib and Hama provinces. Turkey has 12 "observation posts" inside Idlib as part of a de-escalation deal with Iran and Russia, according to state news agency Anadolu.
Turkey is concerned that a planned Syrian government offensive against rebels in Idlib province could set off a new wave of refugees heading for Turkey. More than 3 million civilians live in Idlib, which is dominated by Islamist forces, including militants linked to al-Qaeda.
Ankara has for weeks been engaged in diplomatic efforts to prevent a Syrian regime attack on Idlib along its border. Turkey, Russia and Iran are expected hold a summit on Syria on September 7 in Tehran.
https://www.gulf-times.com/story/604243/Turkey-reinforces-military-posts-inside-Syria