Militants from Al-Nusra Front* have rejected Turkey's demand for dissolution of the terrorist group's units in Idlib province in Syria's northwest, according to the Syrian newspaper Al-Watan.
The developments came after Ankara demanded that al-Nusra Front militants join the so-called "Northern Syrian Army," which is being formed by the Turkish military.
READ MORE: Thousands of Syrians From Towns in Idlib Are Set for Evacuation — Reports
Also, Turkey urged al-Nusra Front's foreign mercenaries to return to the countries from which they arrived and surrender to the law enforcement agencies there.
Al-Watan reported that Ankara also plans to use the recently established National Liberation Front, made up of several rebel groups, to drive al-Nusra Front terrorists out of Idlib.
READ MORE: Syrian Army Seizes Foreign-Made Weapons Slated for Militants in Idlib — Reports
Last week, Syrian President Bashar Assad estimated that Idlib province was currently home to "tens of thousands of terrorists," stressing that the province was among the top priority areas for Syrian military's operations.
The statement came as a source told Sputnik that the Syrian Army was sending military equipment and ammunition to the borders of Idlib province and preparing for a large-scale operation to clear the area of terrorists.
READ MORE: Idlib Liberation Would Bring End to Syria War — Syrian Military
Over the last three years, militants from Aleppo, East Ghouta, Daraa province and other regions have been evacuated to Idlib under agreements with the Syrian government. With the liberation of broad areas of southern Syria earlier this month, Idlib province has become one of the last anti-government strongholds in the country.
*Al-Nusra Front, a terrorist group banned in Russia
