Turkey launches military operation in Syria's Idlib: Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan [Xinhua file photo]

ANKARA -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Saturday that Turkey was conducting an anti-terror operation in Syria's Idlib.

Speaking at the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)'s meeting in Turkey's western province of Afyonkarahisar, Erdogan said "today a landmark operation is underway in Idlib, and it will continue."

"We won't allow a terror corridor along our Syrian border," he stressed, adding that the operation aims to provide Idlib's security.

Turkish President said that the operation in Idlib is the follow-up of the Euphrates Shield Operation in northern Syria, which was launched on Aug. 24, 2016, in a bid to clear Turkey's border from the Islamic State (IS) and other terrorists.

"The Free Syrian Army( FSA) is currently carrying out the operation and our soldiers haven't yet entered Idlib," Erdogan said, adding that the name of the operation will be announced.

The Turkish army is backing the FSA from within Turkey's borders, while Russian forces are providing air support to the operation, he said.

Erdogan said last month that Turkey would deploy troops in Syria's northwest Idlib province as part of a so-called de-escalation agreement brokered by Russia in August.