Ankara is supporting what it calls 'a serious military operation' against former al-Qaeda-linked fighters in Idlib.

Turkey is launching a major military campaign in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, just across its border.

It is backing the Free Syrian Army, which moved into the area on Saturday in a fight against the group that controls much of the area - Hay'et Tahrir al-Sham, an alliance of factions spearheaded by a former al-Qaeda affiliate.

Turkey wants to ensure security in the region where some of the most violent conflicts of the Syrian civil war have taken place.

During the talks in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, in May, Russia, Turkey, and Iran signed a deal to establish de-escalation zones in Syria, which included Idlib.

Ankara says it is not sending its forces in just yet, but providing logistical and intelligence support.

But could this be the beginning of more direct involvement in the war? And what will be the cost?

Presenter: Elizabeth Puranam

Guests:

Metin Gurcan - columnist for Al-Monitor's Turkey Pulse.

Pavel Felgenhauer - defence analyst and columnist with Novaya Gazeta.

Joshua Landis - professor at the department of International and Area Studies at the University of Oklahoma.

Source: Al Jazeera News