Turkey will no longer commit to stopping Syrian refugees from reaching Europe

As fighting between Turkish forces and Syria's Russian-backed military took a more deadly turn this morning, Turkish officials in Ankara announced the government was backing away from its agreement with the EU to keep Syrian refugees from reaching the continent.

Image of Syrian refugees crossing a Turkish border checkpoint {Image by The Muslim Times}

33 Turkish soldiers were killed today in an airstrike by Syrian government forces, in Idlib, Syria. The attack prompted the Turkish government to backtrack on a deal it reached with Europe, in 2016, to keep the more than three million Syrian refugees in Turkey from reaching Europe's shores.

Turkish troops preparing to launch a new assault in Syria. { Getty Images, Feb 18 2020}

“We have decided, effective immediately, not to stop Syrian refugees from reaching Europe by land or sea. All refugees, including Syrians, are now welcome to cross into the European Union,” a senior Turkish government official said.

The move is in response to Europe's lack of action in Turkey's ongoing mini-war with Syrian forces.

Turkish troops initially entered the country to fight off rebel groups in Idlib, in hopes of taking over the region and creating a buffer zone between it and its war-torn neighbour.

Instead, Turkish forces have been met with opposition from the Syrian government, which describes Turkey's actions as an unlawful invasion and violation of its sovereignty.

Today's airstrike doubles the number of casualties among Turkish forces in the fight against Syria's army and increases the possibility of Turkey launching a full-scale assault in Syria.

By: Niza Nondo