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NATO on Friday called on Syria and Russia to halt their airstrikes following the killing of 33 Turkish soldiers in northeastern Syria, as scores of migrants gathered at Turkey's border with Greece seeking entry into Europe.
Greece in turn bolstered border security, while the European Union warned that the fighting in northern Syria could degenerate into open war and that the 27-nation bloc stands ready to protect its security interests.
"Allies condemn the continued indiscriminate air strikes by the Syrian regime and Russia in Idlib province," Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said after chairing emergency talks between NATO ambassadors. "I call on them to stop their offensive, to respect international law and to back U.N efforts for a peaceful solution.”
“This dangerous situation must be de-escalated and we urge an immediate return to the 2018 cease-fire to avoid the worsening of the horrendous humanitarian situation in the region,” Stoltenberg said.
Turkey's 28 allies also expressed their condolences over the deaths, but no additional NATO support was offered during the meeting.
Apart from providing some aerial surveillance over Syria, NATO plays no direct role in the conflict-torn country, but its members are deeply divided over Turkey’s actions there, and European allies are worried about any new wave of refugees arriving.
The air strike by Syrian government forces marks the largest death toll for Turkey in a single day since it first intervened in Syria in 2016. It’s a major escalation in a conflict between Turkish and Russia-backed Syrian forces that has raged since early February.
At least 54 Turkish troops have now been killed in Idlib in that time.
(AP)
