With Friends Like This: Russia and Turkey Fall Out over Idlib

Putin_with_Erdoğan, cc Kremlin.ru, modfiied, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Putin_with_Erdo%C4%9Fan.jpeg

Summary

At least 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in an airstrike on a mechanized infantry convoy traversing southern Idlib province on Thursday night. Moscow has denied that its jets were involved in the strike, but some have pointed to the Russian air force’s likely involvement.

The incident marks a significant escalation in Idlib, one that risks worsening an already tenuous humanitarian situation by drawing Turkey and Russia into direct conflict. There are also potential consequences for Europe, as Ankara has recently announced that it will open its borders for refugees moving westward.

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