* Photo: Lale Köklü - Hatay/AA
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Governor of Hatay Rahmi Doğan has made a statement regarding the airstrike the claimed the lives of 33 soldiers and wounded several others in Syria's Idlib yesterday evening (February 27).
Governor Rahmi Doğan has stated, "Our 33 soldiers have fallen martyrs in an airstrike launched by the Assad regime forces in Idlib."
"There are critically wounded [soldiers following the attack], and they are being treated at hospitals," Doğan has told state-run Anadolu Agency (AA).
While the initial number of the deceased soldiers was announced as nine, the number increased to 29. According to latest reports, 33 soldiers of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) have lost their lives in the attack.
Security meeting by President
Following the attack in Syria's Idlib, President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held an emergency security meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara.
The closed-door meeting, which continued until early Friday, lasted around two hours. The meeting has been announced to the public in a statement released by the Presidency Directorate of Communications.
'It is decided to retaliate against the illegal regime'
Presidency Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun has also made a statement about the security meeting.
Indicating that it was decided to retaliate against the illegal regime, which pointed their guns at Turkish soldiers, Altun has stated the following in brief:
"During the Summit, it was emphasized that the Assad regime was responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of Syrians, and it was decided to retaliate against the illegal regime, which pointed their guns at our soldiers serving to defend the Republic of Turkey's rights and interests.
"In this context, all known targets of the regime have been and will continue to be put under fire with our air and ground fire support elements.
"We hereby call the entire international community, particularly the parties of the Astana Process, to fulfil their responsibility to bring an end to the crimes against humanity committed by the regime.
"We cannot and will not sit back and watch what had happened in Rwanda and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the past to recur in Idlib today. We will never let our gallant martyrs' blood go unrevenged.
"Our ongoing activities on the ground in Syria will continue until the hands reaching to our flag are broken."
Çelik: We will no longer be able to hold refugees
Expressing his condolences for the deceased soldiers, AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik has also indicated that "the heinous attack will meet with a response it deserved."
Çelik has said that Turkey is determined to continue its struggle in line with international law to achieve its targets.
Speaking at a TV channel, Çelik has also stated that "Turkey's refugee policy has not changed, but Turkey will no longer be able to hold the refugees."
Çavuşoğlu spoke with NATO Secretary General
Following the attack, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavusoğlu spoke with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg over the phone, according to diplomatic sources, but no information on the topic of discussion has been disclosed. (EKN/SD)
