
Turkey has shot down two Syrian war planes and destroyed 100 tanks as it launches a military offensive against the Moscow-backed Syrian regime after an airstrike that killed 34 of its soldiers.

Turkish defence minister Hulusi Akar announced the operation - dubbed 'Spring Shield' - today and vowed that any attack on Turkish forces or observation posts in Idlib would be met with retaliation under the country's right to self defence.

Tensions between Ankara and Damascus were heightened on Thursday after the Assad regime targeted Turkish soldiers in Northern Syria. Turkey's relationship with Moscow was also strained today as three Russian journalists were detained in Istanbul.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the country had 'opened its doors', causing an estimated 76,000 migrants to head for its borders with the EU, on Friday after criticisms of Syria from its EU allies were not forthcoming. The US expressed concern and a NATO meeting was also called.

Greek police have fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowds and deny them entry to the 27-member bloc as Bulgaria deployed its army to patrol the country's 118-mile frontier with Turkey.

The EU said this afternoon it will hold an emergency meeting in the coming days to discuss how to 'redouble efforts' to address the grave humanitarian crisis in Idlib.

A Turkish army convoy moves through the Syrian village of Ram Hamdan, north Idlib, on February 25. Turkey has vowed to retaliate to any attack on its troops inside Syria

Turkish national defence minister Hulusi Akar speaking about the operation in Idlib from a centre in Hatay province today

Drone footage showing a Syrian regime tank being targeted and then destroyed by a Turkish drone

A Turkish self-propelled artillery gun pictured firing at Syrian regime targets in Idlib on Friday this week

Migrants pictured gathered on the buffer zone on the Greece-Turkey border this morning. Erdogan said he had 'opened the doors' following the killing of 33 Turkish troops in Northern Syria by the Russian-backed regime

A group of migrants from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine arrive in a dinghy at Mytilene in Lesbos after crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey

The NATO-backed country shot two Syrian government war planes out of the skies above Idlib this morning and has rendered Nayrab airport, outside Aleppo, unusable, Anadolu agency reports.

Turkish-backed opposition commanders also said Kuweires airport, east of Nayrab, had been bombed since midnight.

A hundred and three tanks, eight helicopters, a drone, 72 howitzers, rocket launchers and six air defence systems have been destroyed since the operation - the country's fourth in Syria - was launched on Thursday.

A further 2,212 members of the Syrian regime forces have also been 'neutralised', a term used to designate those killed, wounded or captured, Turkey's defence minister claimed. The Syrian Observatory, a UK-based monitor, said 74 Syrian Syrian government troops and pro-Damascus fighters had been killed since February 27.

In response to the attacks today the Assad regime said it had shot down three Turkish drones used to target its bases and threatened to destroy any aircraft breaching its north-west airspace.

'Any aircraft that violates our airspace will be dealt with as an enemy aircraft that must be brought down,' state news SANA reported citing a military source.

The Assad regime has also agreed this afternoon to host a diplomatic mission from parallel Libyan authorities led by strongman Khalifa Haftar, opposed to the UN-recognised government in Tripoli, to confront Turkish 'interference'.

It is feared the escalation in tensions may lead to a confrontation between Turkey and Russia, the Assad regime's key supporters.

Turkey's defence minister said the country had 'neither the intention nor the notion to face Russia'. 'Our only intention there is for the (Syrian) regime to end the massacre and thereby stop radicalisation and migration,' he continued.

'Turkey expects Russia to use its influence to bring an end to the Syrian regime's attacks, and its withdrawal to the Sochi-deal borders.'

Turkey shot down two Syrian regime planes today. Both pilots escaped in parachutes and survived, SANA news said

Migrants pictured in a makeshift tent as the wait in the buffer zone between Greek Kastanies and Turkish Pazarkule today

Rows of migrants pictured trudging through fields as they walk to reach Pazarakule at the Turkish border with Greece

Migrants detained by Greek police in Neo Cheimonio, four miles past the Greek border, this morning

Migrants brandish their fists as they come up against barbed wire at the Turkey-Greece border today

Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, the Turkish foreign minister, said on Saturday that while there had been progress in talks between Turkish and Russian delegations, the Idlib issue would only be resolved between the countries’ presidents, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Vladimir Putin.

One senior Turkish official and one security official said the meeting would be held on Thursday in Moscow, reports Reuters. The officials said the pair would discuss steps to take in Idlib and that they were expected to reach a mutual agreement. As many as 55 Turkish soldiers were killed in Idlib during February.

Migrants have been crossing the Greece's border with Turkey today. A group including an Afghan mother with a five-day-old baby, waded through the river at Kastanies to reach the EU country, while at least 500 people have risked their lives on boats to Lesbos, Samos and Chios in the Greek islands.

Six migrants have been pictured four miles inside the Greek border today after they were arrested.

In response to the escalating crisis the EU said this afternoon it would hold an emergency meeting to discuss the worsening Syria crisis that is driving refugees to its borders.

Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said this afternoon that the fighting in Idlib represents a 'serious threat to international peace and security'.

'(The EU) needs to redouble efforts to address this terrible human crisis with all the means at its disposal,' he said. 'I am therefore calling for an extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council next week to discuss the unfolding situation.'

The EU border force, Frontex, has said it is on 'high alert' and is assisting both Greece and Bulgaria to keep their borders secure. Sofia, which deployed its army to patrol the more than 100-mile frontier, has said there have been no crossings.

Migrants shout and appear to be preparing to throw objects at Turkey's northwest border post with Greece today

Greece has closed its border and blocked off access with barricades and piles of barbed wire (pictured today)

Migrants run back towards the Turkish border as Greek police shoot tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowds today

Migrants pictured on the border between Turkey and Greece today after Erdogan said he had opened Turkey's doors

Erdogan's decision to re-open the border comes as 33 Turkish troops in Northern Syria were killed by the Russian-backed Assad regime on Thursday. There was no immediate criticism of the attack from European allies, but the US said it was concerned. NATO called a meeting at the request of Turkey.

It is thought the Turkish president has opened the borders, causing scenes reminiscent of the 2015 migrant crisis, to try to pressure the EU and its NATO members to lend him support for Turkey's military operation in Syria.

A Tweet posted by Suleyman Soylu reads: 'As of 09.55 hours, the number of immigrants leaving our country via Edirne is 76,358.'

Up to 30 people were seen in Greece by Reuters reporters this morning after they forded the river at Kastanies. A small group of people were also seen making their way through fields in Orestiada, a frontier region.

Migrants crossing from Pazarkule, on the border with Greece, have clashed with riot police. Tear gas was fired into crowds including Syrians, Iranians, Iraqis, Pakistanis and Moroccans last night as asylum seekers threw stones and attempted to cut barbed wire. An estimated 2,000 further migrants also crowded into Pazarkule today.

Frontex said it had placed 400 personnel in the Greek islands, 60 officers in Bulgaria and a further contingent in the Evros region on the Greek border.

'We have received a request from Greece for additional support. We have already taken steps to redeploy to Greece technical equipment and additional officers,' they said.

Migrants pictured carrying their children as they walk on railways toward Meritsa river, near Edirne, to take a boat to attempt to enter Greece this morning

Migrants pictured walking towards the Pazarkule border with Greece this morning

Migrants, including women and children, pictured carrying their possessions as they walk to the Pazarkule border today

Migrants stumble through a frozen field this morning as they head towards the Pazarkule Turkish border post with Greece

A migrant carries bags as he walks towards the Meritsa river, Turkey, in an attempt to enter into Greece

A woman holds her toddler after making the dangerous crossing to the Greek island of Lesbos early this morning

Women and children pictured on the beach near Skala Sykamineas, Lesbos, after crossing the Aegean last night

Greece said today it had successfully blocked 9,600 attempts to 'illegally' cross its 120-mile frontier with Turkey. Of those arrested inside the country, an army officer told Reuters that they had all been Afghans, not Syrians.

The country has also accused its neighbour of actively guiding migrants. The Greek deputy defence minister, Alkiviadis Stefanis, said: 'Not only are they stopping them, but they are helping them.'

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will chair a meeting of the national security council later today. A text message sent to mobile phones in Greece's northern border area says the country has increased security to maximum, and ordered people not to attempt to enter.

The Balkan nation is facing its most serious crisis since a 2015 financial crash that saw it come precariously close to edging out of the Eurozone.

Bulgarian defence minister Krasimir Karakachanov said there had been no crossings into its territory although tensions had flared along the border.

The EU's Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said the organisation was watching 'with concern' as the commissioner for migration, Margaritis Schinas, tweeted he had requested a meeting of interior ministers.

'Our top priority at this stage is to ensure that Greece and Bulgaria have our full support. We stand ready to provide additioal support including through Frontex on the land border,' said Ms von der Leyen

A migrant pictured swimming back to Turkey after attempting to cross the Maritsa river this morning

Migrants helping each other out of the river after failing to reach the Greek border

An estimated 30,000 migrants gathered at checkpoints after Turkey's president claimed to have 'opened the doors' to allow as many as 4 million asylum seekers to leave the country

Migrants throw objects during clashes with Greek police, at the Turkey's Pazarkule border crossing with Greece's Kastanies, in Edirne, Turkey

Refugees and migrants gather at Pazarkule border as they attempt to enter Greece

The sea of migrants crossing Turkey's western border comes as Ankara ramps up tensions with Damascus, following the killing of 33 Turkish troops in Northern Syria.

The country said it had destroyed Syrian regime air defence systems, more than 100 tanks, and downed two planes after launching an operation on Thursday.

It has also heightened tensions with Syria's key backer, Moscow, by detaining three Russian journalists in Istanbul.

Last night a group of young men who tried to cut through the border fence were turned back by armed soldiers, while police used smoke grenades to disperse crowds.

Angry clashes started just 24 hours after an announcement by Turkish authorities that it would no longer restrict the movement of refugees, tearing up a £5 billion agreement with the EU to contain the flow of asylum seekers signed after the 2015 migrant crisis.

Turkey's decision comes amid frustration that the EU and Nato countries, including Britain, have failed to provide enough support in the country's opposition to President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war. On Thursday, 33 Turkish soldiers were killed by Syrian forces, dramatically raising tensions in a war in which Turkey and Russia are backing opposing sides.

Turkey has continued retaliatory strikes against the Syrian government, killing a further 26 Syrian troops with drone strikes on Saturday, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan insisted he would not back down, adding that his country could not handle another wave of refugees from northern Syria. 'We opened the doors,' he said. 'We will not close those doors. Why? Because the EU should keep its promises.'

Turkey has been hosting an estimated 3.7million migrants since a deal was struck with the EU. Bureaucrats in Brussels said yesterday that Turkey had not 'formally' notified them of any change to its migration policy.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) members distribute food to migrants and refugees that gathered at the Turkish-Greek border, near Edirne, Turkey

A drone photo shows migrants moving towards, and congregating around, the Turkish side of the Turkey-Greece border at Pazarkule, Edirne, Turkey yesterday

A migrants stands during clashes with Greek police, at the Turkey's Pazarkule border crossing with Greece's Kastanies, in Edirne, Turkey yesterday

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (rear C) makes a speech as he holds a meeting with his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's Istanbul deputies at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, Turkey yesterday

Greek police officers are pictured from Turkey's Pazarkule border crossing with Greece's Kastanies during clashes with migrants, in Edirne, Turkey yesterday

A locator map shows the crossing governate Edirne, which houses most of the borders into Greece and Bulgaria, and Lesbos, where many migrants from sub-Saharan Africa land on dinghys

Tear gas floats in the air during clashes between migrants and Greek police, at the Turkey's Pazarkule border crossing with Greece's Kastanies, in Edirne, Turkey yesterday

A map shows the border points from Turkey into Greece and Bulgaria, and from Syria into Turkey

Migrants can be seen on their way towards the Turkish-Greek border in Edime, Turkey yesterday

Syrian migrants can be seen being rescued after being stranded on an islet after they tried reaching the Greek side of the Evros River in Edirne, Turkey yesterday

A woman reacts as a dinghy transporting 27 refugees and migrants originating from Gambia and the Republic of Congo lands in Lesbos island after they were rescued by a war ship during their sea crossing between Turkey and Greece yesterday

Migrants wait as Greek anti riot police officers patrol on the buffer zone Turkey-Greece border, at Pazarkule, in Edirne district yesterday

Migrants can be seen after they were rescued when stranded on an islet while trying to paddle to the Greek side of the Evros river, in Turkey yesterday

A man takes coover behind an umbrella as he throws a mattress in a fire during clashes with Greek police in the buffer zone at Turkey-Greece border, at Pazarkule, in Edirne district yesterday

Migrants, who are trying to cross into Europe through Turkey, are pictured reaching for food aid near the Pazarkule Border in Karaagac neighbourhood of Edirne, Turkey yesterday

A Greek policeman collects tear gas canisters reportedly thrown from the Turkish side of the border during riots beween migrants and Greek police at the closed Kastanies border crossing, on the borderline between Greece and Turkey, near the Evros River yesterday

Refugees wait for attempting to pass the closed-off Turkish-Greek border and try to enter Europe, Edirne, Turkey yesterday

Refugees wait for attempting to pass the closed-off Turkish-Greek border and try to enter Europe, Edirne, Turkey yesterday while Greek border officials look on from the Greek side

Greek Police guard Kastanies border gate, Evros region, as a migrant stands in front of a fence between Greece and Pazarkule border gate, Edirne, Turkey yesterday

Greek riot policemen guard behind fences as refugees wait for attempting to pass the closed-off Turkish-Greek border and try to enter Europe, Edirne yesterday

Irregular migrants, who want to proceed to Europe, wait at the Turkish side and the buffer zone between the Greek Kastanies and Turkish Pazarkule border gates today in Turkey