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Erdogan Issues Ultimatum to Damascus on Idlib

Dorian Jones

   ISTANBUL - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has issued an
   ultimatum to Damascus warning of military action if the Syrian
   government does not withdraw its armed forces from Turkey's observation
   posts in Syria's Idlib province. Erdogan's threat is the latest
   ratcheting up of tensions following Monday's killing of Turkish
   soldiers by Syrian forces.

   "We hope that the process of the regime pulling back behind our
   observation posts is completed in February," Erdogan told his AKP
   parliamentary deputies Wednesday. "If the regime does not pull back
   during this time, Turkey will have to do this job itself."

   Parliamentary deputies rose to their feet, chanting Erdogan's name. The
   Turkish president's threat follows the pounding of Syrian government
   forces Monday. Ankara claims dozens of soldiers were killed in its
   artillery and air strikes, which targeted over 50 sites across Idlib
   province.

   Monday's attacks were in retaliation for Damascus forces striking a
   Turkish military convoy killing eight people and injuring a dozen more.
   The convoy was reinforcing some of the 12 Turkish military outposts
   across Idlib.

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