Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkey’s president, spoke with two European leaders on Friday and called for an end to a Syrian government offensive on Idlib.
The Turkish leader told French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel that “the Syrian regime and its backers’ aggression in Idlib must be stopped,” according to a statement from Erdogan’s office.
Erdogan also emphasized the need for “strong support and concrete action” to halt the unfolding humanitarian crisis, his office said.
It followed a similar call by Merkel and Macron to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, during which they proposed urgent talks with Erdogan to ease tensions.
Erdogan said later Friday that he will hold a telephone conversation with Putin in the afternoon to discuss the situation in Idlib. “The result of this call will determine our position,” Erdogan said.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, accompanied by military commanders, traveled to the Turkish-Syrian border to inspect troops, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
Tension in the region has been escalating in recent weeks as Turkey sent thousands of soldiers into Syria in a show of force.
