Turkish army launches recce mission in Syria’s Idlib province

Even if we turn our backs on developments in Syria, can we escape from the results of the crisis? This is why when we don’t go to Syria, Syria comes to us RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, Turkish president

ANKARA :The Turkish Army has launched a reconnaissance mission in Syria’ s largely jihadist-controlled northwestern Idlib province in a bid to create a de-escalation zone, the military said on Monday.

“The Turkish armed forces began reconnaissance activities on October 8 (Sunday) to establish surveillance posts as part of the operation to be carried out in Id lib province ,” the armed forces said in a statement.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Saturday the start of the new military operation inside Syria by pro-An kara Syrian rebels backed by the Turkish army.

The statement was the first confirmation by the Turkish army of involvement inside Syria in the latest operation.

The operation is part of efforts by Turkey, along with Russia and Iran, to setup the zone inline with accords in Astana peace talks aimed at ending the Syrian civil war. They agreed on four such ceasefire zones in Syria as a prelude to negotiations.

Three zones are already in place -- in Eastern Ghouta near Damascus, in central Ho ms, and in parts of southern Syria -- and are being monitored by Russian military police.

Idlib is largely controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group led by Al-Qaeda’s former Syria affiliate, which ousted more moderate rebels in recent months.

The pro-Turkish forces will need to oust H TS members in the area to allow Iranian, Russian and Turkish forces to implement the zone.

The last time Turkish forces were engaged in Syria was in August, when Turkey launched its eight-months long Euphrates Shield operation against jihad is ts and Kurdish militia in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo.