国际英语资讯:News Analysis: Turkey shifts strategy by increasing military presence in Idlib after Syrian_时事

国际英语资讯:News Analysis: Turkey shifts strategy by increasing military presence in Idlib after Syrian

ANKARA, Feb. 13 -- In response to the ongoing Russian-backed Syrian attacks in Idlib, Turkey has shifted its strategy by increasing its military presence in the northern province of Syria to push Damascus to abide by Russian-Turkish agreements, experts said.

"Turkey will strike Syrian forces anywhere" if one more Turkish soldier is hurt and could use air power, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday in Ankara, in reaction to the killing of 13 Turkish military personnel by Syrian shelling in two separate attacks this month in Idlib, the last rebel-held stronghold in Syria.

Turkey has poured in the last few days thousands of troops and convoys of military vehicles across the border into Idlib, including tanks, armored personnel carriers and radar equipment in order to bolster its 12 observation posts.

"Following the Syrian regime's attacks that killed Turkish soldiers, Turkey has moved from a diplomatic strategy aiming to protect de-escalation agreements to a military strategy of increasing its boots in Idlib," said Oytun Orhan, a senior analyst at the Ankara-based think tank Center for Middle Eastern Studies.

Ankara and Moscow agreed in September 2018 to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone where acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.

"Turkey wants Damascus, and also Moscow, to understand that it means business and will not back down to provocative attacks. This is a power struggle that Ankara absolutely wants to win," Orhan noted.