'Idlib attack will bring a new wave of refugees' - Erdogan

The Turkish leader has been mounting a public campaign to focus the world’s attention on the dangers of an attack on the rebel-held province. Image: AP Photo

Raf Sanchez in Ankara

September 13 2018 02:30 AM

A full-scale Syrian regime attack on Idlib would lead to a flow of refugees to Europe and "serious humanitarian and security risks" to the continent, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned.

The Turkish leader has been mounting a public campaign to focus the world's attention on the dangers of an attack on the rebel-held province, where around three million people are bracing themselves for an assault by Bashar al-Assad's forces.

In an article in the 'Wall Street Journal', Mr Erdogan said the international community "must understand their responsibilities as the assault on Idlib looms".

"A regime assault would also create serious humanitarian and security risks for Turkey, the rest of Europe and beyond," he said.

Turkey is already sheltering more than three million Syrian refugees within its borders and has repeatedly said that it cannot take any more.

Ankara has warned the EU it would not stop the new refugees from heading towards Europe, raising the prospect of a repeat of the 2015 refugee crisis.

In an apparent effort to underscore Mr Erdogan's warnings and threats, a pro-government newspaper published a map in Arabic showing how Syrian refugees might pass through Turkey and into Europe.

The map, published by the 'Daily Sabah', seemed meant to encourage Syrians to head to Europe and to focus the attention of the EU on a potential new wave of arrivals.

Around 30,000 people have already been displaced by fighting in Idlib and the neighbouring province of Hama since September 1, the United Nations said. (© Daily Telegraph London)