BEIRUT (AP) — The Latest on developments related to the war in Syria (all times local):
3:35 p.m.
A senior official has confirmed that Turkey has reinforced Turkish troops manning 12 security posts around Idlib as the Syrian army prepares for a military offensive to reclaim control of the province.
The official spoke Friday on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations, and did not provide further information.
Syrian activists said Thursday that a Turkish convoy entered from Kfar Lusin crossing into northern Idlib, heading to some of the 12 Turkish observations posts. A video shot by activists of the monitoring group Central Station for Turkish Intervention showed armored and gun-mounted vehicles and tanks driving through an Idlib road.
Turkey deployed hundreds of soldiers at 12 observations posts that circle Idlib, following a de-escalation agreement it reached with Russia and Iran last year.
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2:05 p.m.
Syrian activists say residents in the country’s last opposition-held province, Idlib, are demonstrating against President Bashar Assad, in defiance of an expected government offensive to retake the territory.
The activist-run Orient News channel reported protests in the town of al-Bab and the provincial capital, Idlib.
Wissam Zarqa, a university instructor, says the demonstrations started after congregational prayers on Friday, which mark the end of the work week in the Muslim world. Fridays have become the customary day of protest throughout the Arab world since the 2011 uprisings that swept through the region.
Zarqa says demonstrators are flying the green, white and black flag of Syria’s uprising against Assad.
The government and its backers, Russia and Iran, say Idlib is ruled by terrorists and are threatening to seize it from the opposition by force.
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1:15 p.m.
The Kremlin says that President Vladimir Putin could meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan next week.
Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that preparations are under way for Putin’s meeting with Erdogan in Sochi on Monday. He wouldn’t elaborate on the meeting’s agenda, but the two leaders are likely to discuss the tensions in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib.
The Syrian army, backed by Russia and Iran, is preparing for a military offensive to reclaim control over Idlib, the last remaining rebel stronghold on the border with Turkey. Turkey strongly warned against the military action, saying it would trigger a humanitarian catastrophe.
Russia has urged Turkey to persuade rebels in Idlib to sever ties with al-Qaida linked rebels in the area.
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1:10 p.m.
Turkey’s military and defense chiefs have visited areas bordering Syria where the country has reinforced troops amid fears of a looming Syrian government offensive on Syria’s last rebel-held province of Idlib.
Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Chief of Military Staff Yasar Guler on Friday inspected troops in the border provinces of Hatay and Gaziantep.
Turkey has been reinforcing the border in recent weeks. Syrian activists meanwhile said new military reinforcements had arrived to beef up Turkish observation points inside Idlib.
The state-run Anadolu Agency reported late Thursday that commando units as well as howitzers, tanks, armored personnel carriers and heavy work machines were sent to the town of Reyhanli, in Hatay province as reinforcements
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12:20 p.m.
Turkey’s foreign minister says his country is still working for a peaceful solution for Syria’s rebel-held province of Idlib, adding that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would hold talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Monday.
Turkish media said the two leaders would meet in the Russian city of Sochi.
Speaking during a visit to Pakistan on Friday, Mevlut Cavusoglu said: “We will continue our efforts with Iran and with Russia. … We will continue our efforts on international platforms as well.” His comments were broadcast live on Turkish television.
At a meeting in Tehran last week, the leaders of Russia and Iran backed military operations in Idlib despite pleas from Erdogan for a cease-fire.
Turkey fears a humanitarian crisis in Idlib, which straddles Turkey’s borders and is home to more than 3 million people.