Northwestern Syria offensive

Moscow strongly opposes the operation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Russia and Ankara remain in touch to try to prevent further escalation of tensions in Idlib, Reuters reported.

Turkey's presidential spokesman said on Feb. 18 that Ankara's policy in Idlib, the restive Syrian province, is based on the 2018 Sochi deal reached with Russia.

"Returning to the Sochi deal is the baseline of Turkey's policy for Idlib," Kalın told reporters in the capital Ankara, as meetings concluded between Turkish-Russian delegations on Idlib in Moscow.

Turkey will use force against rebel groups violating a ceasefire in Syria's northwest Idlib region, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Thursday, in an apparent response to Russian criticism.

Scores of Syrian regime elements were "neutralized" on Feb. 12 in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, the Turkish Defense Ministry has said.

"According to information conveyed by several sources in Idlib region, it has been learned that 55 regime elements were neutralized today," said the statement.

James Jeffrey, the U.S. special envoy for Syria engagement and fight against ISIL, will pay a visit to Turkey on Feb. 12 amid recent escalation in Syria's last rebel bastion of Idlib, a province in the country's northwest.

Turkey said it retaliated on Feb. 10 after intense shelling by Syrian forces killed five soldiers and wounded five others in Syria's northern Idlib province, a marked escalation a week after a similarly deadly clash between the two sides.

Five Turkish soldiers were killed and five others were injured in a Syrian regime artillery attack in Idlib province of Syria, as the Turkish army retaliated against the regime forces, Turkey's Defense Ministry said on Feb. 10.

Amid heightened tensions between Ankara and Damascus, Turkey's Defense Ministry has vowed to respond to any attack against Turkish observation posts in Syria's northwestern Idlib region.

During a briefing at the ministry, military sources told state-run Anadolu Agency that Turkey will respond to any attack against its observation posts in the most "intense way as possible."

A Russian delegation is expected to visit Turkey in the wake of a Syrian regime attack on Turkish troops in Idlib, Turkish foreign minister said on Feb. 6.

U.S. Secretary of State on Feb. 4 offered condolences for Turkish troops killed by Syrian regime shelling in Idlib and reiterated Washington's support amid clashes with regime forces.

Mike Pompeo called the attack on Turkish observation posts by forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad regime a "grave escalation."