Turkey opens offensive against al Qaeda forces
ISTANBUL — Turkey’s president announced Saturday that the country has launched a “serious operation” in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province with Turkey-backed Syrian opposition forces, following international efforts to calm the fighting in the war-torn country.
The operation has been highly anticipated in the province, where al Qaeda-linked fighters enjoy wide influence, after last month’s talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana during which Turkey, Iran and Russia agreed on setting up “a de-escalation zone” in the region.
The operation is aimed at eventually crushing al Qaeda in what may turn into a long and costly war. The extremist group has thousands of battle-hardened fighters and enjoys some popular support in the province, unlike the Islamic State group.
Turkey is a strong backer of Syrian opposition fighters while Iran and Russia back President Bashar Assad. Moscow joined the war two years ago siding with Assad while Tehran has sent thousands of Iranian-backed fighters, tipping the balance of power in the president’s favor.
In late September, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Turkey where he discussed the situation in Syria with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Last week, the Turkish leader went to Tehran.
Erdogan said the operation was a “new step” to establish security in Idlib, promising Turkey would not desert civilians there.
“Today, there is a serious operation in Idlib and it will continue,” he said at his political party’s conference in Afyonkarahisar province in western Turkey.
Responding to journalists’ questions after the televised speech, Erdogan said: “The Free Syrian Army is leading an operation in Idlib right now,” referring to moderate rebel groups in Syria. He added that the Turkish military was not yet in the province.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has activists throughout Syria, said Turkish troops removed some walls in some areas along the border in order to allow vehicles to pass. It said Idlib is tense amid fear of clashes between al Qaeda fighters and those of other militant groups.
The Observatory added that the expected Turkish operation in Idlib will be conducted under the cover of Russian air strikes.
Turkey-backed Syrian forces are fighting the al Qaeda-linked Levant Liberation Committee, formerly known as Nusra Front. In the past weeks, the Turkish military has been dispatching tanks and armored vehicles to the border with Idlib.
Turkish Chief of Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar and Ground Forces Commander Gen. Yasar Guler and Air Force Commander Gen. Hasan Kucukakyuz arrived in the southern province of Hatay bordering Idlib on Saturday to inspect preparations, according to a military statement.
“The aim of the operation is to implement the Astana agreement by setting up Turkish observation posts similar to those of Russia,” said Lt. Col. Fares al-Bayoush. “This cannot be achieved without confronting the Nusra Front . ... The aim is to finish Nusra Front.”