Erdogan urges Syria to back off Turkish observation posts

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Syria on Wednesday to withdraw its troops from its military observation posts in northwestern Idlib province where clashes have intensified in recent days.

"At the moment, two of our 12 observation posts are behind the regime's lines. We hope the regime will withdraw from our observation posts before the end of the month of February," he told a meeting of his ruling party in Ankara.

"If the regime does not pull back, Turkey will be obliged to take matters into its own hands."