Turkey ready to act after reinforcing Syria's Idlib

'TURKEY WILL ACT'

Syria's armed forces said on Sunday they have recaptured more than 600 square kilometres (230 square miles) of territory, taking control of dozens of towns and villages in recent days, and said they would maintain the fight.

"Our brave army will continue to carry out its sacred duties to clear the entire geographic territory of Syria from terrorism and its supporters," the armed forces said in a statement.

Ankara has urged Moscow to rein in the Idlib offensive, which has brought Syrian government forces within 10 miles (16 km) of the provincial capital Idlib city, home to more than 1 million people.

Defence Minister Hulusi Akar reiterated on Sunday that they must pull back soon. "If the regime forces are not withdrawn by the end of February, we will take action," he told Hurriyet newspaper in an interview.

On the eastern flank of the opposition-held enclave, the Observatory said advancing government forces had seized all but a 2 km stretch of the M5 highway, Syrian's main north-south road which links Syria's two main cities Damascus and Aleppo.

Pope Francis called on Sunday for respect of humanitarian law in Idlib, saying reports from the province were "painful ... particularly regarding the conditions of women and children, of people forced to flee from a military escalation".