Inside Story

Can Turkey’s response to Syrian attacks trigger a refugee crisis?

Turkish officials were quoted as saying Ankara won’t stop Syrian refugees who want to cross border points into the EU.

It is the biggest single-day loss of Turkish soldiers in Syria’s civil war.

Thirty-three Turkish soldiers were killed on Thursday by government air raids in Idlib, the last rebel-held province.

Turkey retaliated with attacks on Syrian army positions.

It also appears to be putting pressure on allies in Europe to respond.

Turkish officials were quoted as saying Ankara will not stop Syrian refugees who want to cross border points into the European Union. If this happens, it would go against a 2016 deal for EU funds in return for hosting refugees.

Could this tension trigger a new humanitarian crisis?

Presenter: Kamahl Santamaria

Guests:

Mehmet Celik – Managing editor of the Daily Sabah English newspaper in Turkey

Wilf Dinnick – Spokesperson on Syria for the humanitarian aid organisation Mercy Corps

Fadi Hakura – Consulting fellow in the Europe programme at Chatham House