Turkey Announces Start of 'Serious Operation' in Idlib, Syria

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Turkey, announced the beginning of a 'serious operation' by his country's military in Idlib, Syria, and a Syrian rebel official stated that the group under his command is ready to enter the area with the support of Turkish forces. Idlib and its surrounding areas are among the major bases of rebel groups opposing Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, but are currently largely dominated by extremist jihadist factions. According to Reuters, Erdoğan said on Saturday, October 7, that 'a serious operation has begun today in Idlib, which will continue, as we want to help our brothers in Idlib and those who have reached this area.' He stated that 'such a step has been taken and the operation is ongoing,' adding that Turkish forces have not yet entered the operation and that rebel forces are currently engaged. The Turkish President emphasized that Russia, a main ally of Bashar al-Assad, is expected to support the operation from the air. Turkish military forces entered eastern Idlib last year and supported the Free Syrian Army in the 'Euphrates Shield' operation against jihadist and Kurdish groups. A senior Syrian rebel official said on Saturday that the Free Syrian Army groups are ready to enter northwestern Syria through Turkish territory. The Al-Mu'tasim Brigade stated: 'The Free Syrian Army is fully prepared to enter this area with the support of Turkish forces, but so far no such action has taken place.' Last month, the Turkish President said that Ankara would send its forces to Idlib as part of an agreement reached with Russia in August to create demilitarized zones in Syria. Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, a Syrian jihadist group, has insisted that it will continue to fight against the forces of Bashar al-Assad and its allies and has rejected the establishment of demilitarized zones. Concurrently with Erdoğan's statements, Mustafa Sejari, another senior official of the Free Syrian Army, told Reuters that entry into northwestern Syria is imminent. The Hamza Brigade, which is also part of the Euphrates Shield, released a video showing what it claims are images of its dispatched forces moving to Idlib. Residents around the 'Bab al-Hawa' border crossing between Turkey and Syria sent images to Reuters of what is claimed to be the removal of part of the border wall by Turkish officials. Erdoğan stated on Saturday that Turkey will not displace the people of Idlib and will not allow a 'terror corridor to form along its borders with Syria.' He added, 'We will continue our plans after the Idlib operation.'