Despite Turkey’s demands, Cyprus refuses to back down
https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-...-to-back-down/
Fighting Escalates in Syria as Shelling Kills Five Turkish Soldiers
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/10/w...ib-turkey.html
Syria has denied that any of their soldiers have been killed in these strikes and it seems that this claim from Turkey is just some morale-boosting propaganda for domestic purpose. So Erdogan is digging in his heels and in the process is alienating everyone. Trump wouldn't come to the defense of the Kurds and has spoken about NATO as an institution that doesn't serve US interests; it's hard to imagine Trump and the rest of NATO coming to the defense of Turkey in an area outside of Turkey itself, risking confrontation with Russia. I think it's just a matter of time before Erdogan finds some sort of face-saving excuse to get out. They have already lost 13 soldiers, how many more do they want to risk losing?
https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-...-to-back-down/
Cyprus won’t put its exploratory gas drilling plans on hold despite Turkey’s attempt to force the east Mediterranean island nation to halt its activities by conducting its own gas search in Cypriot waters, the president of Cyprus said Sunday.
President Nicos Anastasiades said pausing drilling in the face of Turkish pressure would be tantamount to Cyprus abrogating its sovereign rights.
President Nicos Anastasiades said pausing drilling in the face of Turkish pressure would be tantamount to Cyprus abrogating its sovereign rights.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/10/w...ib-turkey.html
The fighting has led Turkey to send hundreds of military vehicles and troops into Idlib province in the past week, bringing both countries’ forces into direct confrontation, a rarity in the Syrian conflict.
Eight Turkish military and civilian personnel and 13 Syrian soldiers were killed in a clash in the province last week. Turkey has warned Syria to retreat to cease-fire lines that were agreed in 2018.
The Turkish Defense Ministry said that its five troops who were killed and those who were wounded were reinforcements that had been sent to Idlib.
A later statement said the retaliation was in line with Turkey’s rules of engagement and its right to self-defense.
At least 115 Syrian positions were targeted in the retaliatory strikes, the ministry said, adding that more than 100 Syrian forces were “neutralized.” In addition, three tanks and two artillery positions were destroyed, while a helicopter was hit, the ministry said. The claim could not be independently verified.
Eight Turkish military and civilian personnel and 13 Syrian soldiers were killed in a clash in the province last week. Turkey has warned Syria to retreat to cease-fire lines that were agreed in 2018.
The Turkish Defense Ministry said that its five troops who were killed and those who were wounded were reinforcements that had been sent to Idlib.
A later statement said the retaliation was in line with Turkey’s rules of engagement and its right to self-defense.
At least 115 Syrian positions were targeted in the retaliatory strikes, the ministry said, adding that more than 100 Syrian forces were “neutralized.” In addition, three tanks and two artillery positions were destroyed, while a helicopter was hit, the ministry said. The claim could not be independently verified.
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