Turkey deploys troops to Syria's Idlib for potential ground operation
The Turkish military has deployed more troops on the M4 highway south of northwestern Syria's opposition-held Idlib and is prepared for any potential ground operation amid surging attacks by the Bashar Assad regime, the local sources reported.
The reports suggest the deployment came just days ahead of the scheduled meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin this week in Sochi.
Reuters agency cited opposition and military sources, saying the move came after Russian jets bombed villages in Afrin on Sunday. Air strikes on towns and villages held by Turkish-backed rebels have escalated in the past week.
Rebel sources said at least five fighters from a Turkey-backed faction were killed and at least 12 civilians were injured when Russian jets flying at high altitudes dropped ordnance, a network of plane spotters who document jet fighter sightings.