Before his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued new threats against everyone except Russia. He reiterated his expectation for “a ceasefire" that Putin could provide and underlined that "Idlib is as much homeland as Çanakkale".

The meeting between Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow today will be set against incoming news of Turkish soldiers' deaths from Idlib.

The Syrian Human Rights Observatory (SOHR) confirmed that clashes continue between the Syrian regime forces and the Turkish state and its mercenary allies east of Idlib. The SOHR said on Wednesday that 4 Turkish soldiers died and 7 were injured following a bombardment of al-Tirinba and al-Mastuma carried out by Syrian regime forces.

High number of casualties among Turkish soldiers

Local sources stated that the number of dead Turkish soldiers was at least 9. The bodies of the dead as well as the injured soldiers were taken to Reyhanlı State Hospital. However, the Turkish Defense Ministry claimed that only 2 soldiers were killed.

‘A battalion has been wiped out’

Mezopotamya Agency, on the other hand, quoted Turkish soldiers waiting in the garden of Reyhanlı State Hospital, where the dead and injured were brought, as saying ‘a battalion has been wiped out.”

Russia carrying out air strikes

On the other hand, Russia continues to carry out air strikes targeting the Turkish-backed mercenaries. 

The SOHR stated that Russian warplanes carried out 81 air strikes on Monday in the cities of Idlib, Saraqib, Binish, Afis, Sirmin, Aleppo countryside and Tukad town.

Russian police withdrew from Seraqib

The SOHR also reported that Russian military police officers deployed in Saraqib were withdrawn after the city was retaken by Turkish-backed mercenaries. 

Russia: Turkey is violating international agreements

Russia reiterated that Turkey is violating international agreements and confirmed the  bombing by Turkey of its military base located in Hmeymim.

Chemical weapons allegation

The Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria alleged that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham attempted to use chemical weapons in the town of Saraqib.

Message to Rojava and Bashur Kurdistan

Erdogan, speaking at his party's group meeting on Wednesday, renewed threats of occupation against Rojava and Bashur (South) Kurdistan saying that it was a “survival problem for Turkey”.

Erdogan said: "The Turkish nation knows that the defense of Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Antalya, Trabzon, Erzurum and Sanliurfa starts in Afrin, Idlib, Manbij, Jarablus, Ain al-Arab, Tal Abyad, Ras al-Ain, Qamishlo, Northern Iraq and even Libya."

Erdogan threatened everyone except Putin

At the group meeting, Erdogan uttered threats against everyone, especially the CHP, Europe, the Syrian administration and the Kurds. However, he didn’t say a word against Russia. 

Asked by journalists whether Russia will have a new offer, Erdogan said: "At the moment, there is no offer.”

Erdogan: Idlib is as much homeland as Çannakale

The Turkish President said that Idlib is “as much homeland as Çannakale” and added that he is expecting a “ceasefire agreement.”

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on the meeting: "Our aim is solution, peaceful methods, political solutions.”