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Ankara shifts gears to cease-fire in Syria

Turkey's tone has softened on its military confrontation with Syria with Defense Minister Hulusi Akar telling fellow NATO ministers in Brussels that Ankara sent 5,000 additional troops to the rebel-held province "to secure a lasting cease-fire."
Turkish military vehicles are seen in Hazano near Idlib, Syria, February 11, 2020. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi - RC2HYE9JOB3E

Turkey’s defense minister sounded a more dovish note on his country’s ongoing military confrontation with Syria over Idlib today, telling fellow NATO ministers in Brussels that Ankara’s aim in sending some 5,000 additional troops to the rebel-held province was “to secure a lasting cease-fire.” Hulusi Akar’s comments contrasted with days of hawkish rhetoric from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who as recently as yesterday threatened all-out war against the Syrian army unless it withdrew from recently captured terrain in Idlib where Turkish and Syrian forces have bloodily clashed over the past week, leaving 10 Turkish observation posts under siege. Erdogan set a March 1 deadline.

At least 14 Turkish soldiers and an unknown number of Syrian forces have died since the start of February, the first time the sides have come to blows since the start of Syria’s civil conflict in 2011. The effects of the escalation are being felt on Turkey’s wobbly currency, with the lira wilting further against the dollar for a third consecutive day.

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