ANKARA (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 11th September, 2018) Turkish General Staff ordered the forces of its allies from the armed Syrian opposition in northern Syria to put their units on high alert amid worsening situation around the province of Idlib, local media reported Monday.
According to the Yeni Safak newspaper, the order concerns about 50,000 members of the Free Syrian Army stationed in the Afrin, Azaz, Jarabalus, and Al Bab districts that came under their control during the Euphrates Shield and the Olive Branch joint operations of the Turkish Armed Forces and the armed Syrian opposition in 2016-2018.
The number of Turkish soldiers deployed to these areas exceeded 30,000. Turkey also doubled the number of armored vehicles and artillery batteries on the border with Syria and strengthened its 12 observation posts within Idlib to monitor de-escalation.
While the Syrian government has regained control over most of the country's territories following several years of armed conflicts with opposition and militant groups, including terrorist organizations, the Idlib de-escalation zone remains a stronghold of insurgency and is still being cleared of terrorists.
On Friday, Russia, Turkey, and Iran held a trilateral meeting in Tehran on the situation in Idlib. The leaders of the three countries focused on the conflict in Syria and the situation in the country's Idlib de-escalation zone.
