The Syrian command is obliged to withdraw troops from the Idlib de-escalation zone by the end of February, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in Ankara on Wednesday.

According to the Turkish leader, Damascus should withdraw troops in Idlib away from their observation posts, Daily Sabah reported.

Erdogan noted if Turkish troops stationed in observation posts in the region, or anyone else in Syria will suffer from the actions of Damascus again, then Turkey will not adhere to the Sochi agreement and will strike at the Syrian government forces, Interfax reported.

The situation in the Syrian province of Idlib has become much more complicated in the last week. Turkish defense ministry earlier reported five Turkish soldiers were killed in the blow that the Syrian army inflicted on the Turkish observation post in Idlib.

The Turkish army attacked 115 targets of the Syrian government army and ‘neutralized’ 101 Syrian troops. According to the Turkish MOD, Syrian army helicopter and three tanks have been shot down, and two mortars have been destroyed.

Turkish authorities reported the Turkish military fell under shelling of Syrian government forces in Idlib. Erdogan claimed that eight people were killed as a result of the shelling.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar claimed the Turkish armed forces attacked 54 Syrian forces and ‘neutralized’ over 70 Syrian soldiers.