Idlib, Syria is national issue: Turkish defense chief

ANKARA

One Turkish soldier was martyred in attacks in Idlib, northwestern Syria, as Turkey’s Operation Peace Spring remains a critical issue for the nation, said Turkey’s defense chief on Tuesday.

"I believe this to be a national issue. This is an issue of security and defense,” National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told reporters after a closed parliamentary session on the situation in Syria.

“We talked about what has happened in the field, and answered questions. I believe it was useful," he added.

Idlib, just across Turkey’s southern border, falls within a de-escalation zone laid out in a deal between Turkey and Russia in late 2018.

But the Syrian regime and its allies have consistently broken the terms of the agreement, launching frequent attacks inside the territory, where acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.

Turkey launched Operation Spring Shield on Sunday after at least 34 Turkish soldiers were martyred in an Assad regime airstrike in Idlib.

The soldiers were in Idlib under the 2018 deal, to protect civilians from attacks by the Assad regime and its allies.

*Writing by Firdevs Bulut