NATO urges Syria, Russia to halt airstrikes as migrants leave Turkey

NATO on Friday called on Syria and Russia to halt their airstrikes following the killing of 33 Turkish soldiers in northeastern Syria, as scores of migrants gathered at Turkey's border with Greece seeking entry into Europe.

Greece and neighbouring Bulgaria in turn bolstered border security, hoping to block migrants from Africa and Iran, as well as refugees from Syria, from crossing the border. The European Union warned that the fighting in northern Syria could degenerate into open war and that the 27-nation bloc stands ready to protect its security interests.

"Allies condemn the continued indiscriminate airstrikes by the Syrian regime and Russia in Idlib province," Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said after chairing emergency talks between NATO ambassadors. "I call on them to stop their offensive, to respect international law and to back UN efforts for a peaceful solution."

"This dangerous situation must be de-escalated and we urge an immediate return to the 2018 ceasefire to avoid the worsening of the horrendous humanitarian situation in the region," Stoltenberg said.

Turkey's 28 allies also expressed their condolences over the deaths, but no additional NATO support was offered during the meeting.

Apart from providing some aerial surveillance over Syria, NATO plays no direct role in the conflict-torn country, but its members are deeply divided over Turkey's actions there, and European allies are worried about any new wave of refugees arriving.

The United Nations Security Council was due to meet later on Friday over the latest developments in northwest Syria, diplomats said, at the request of the United States, Britain, Belgium, Germany, Estonia, France and the Dominican Republic. Belgium's Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve, the current council president, told reporters the meeting will take place at 4 p.m. ET.

Escalation of bombings in Syria prompts rebuke from NATO

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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says Russian and Syrian airstrikes are having a calamitous impact on civilians.

Canada said in a statement it "condemns in the strongest terms the deliberate attacks targeting civilians, schools, medical personnel and health-care facilities now occurring in Idlib, Syria. These ongoing attacks on innocent civilians by the Syrian regime, its supporters and foreign facilitators must end."

"We remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting experienced humanitarian partners on the ground that are addressing humanitarian needs in Syria and the region," said the statement attributed to François-Philippe Champagne, minister of foreign affairs, and Karina Gould, minister of international development.

"Canada also supports the UN secretary general's recent call for a political solution to end the humanitarian crisis currently unfolding. Only a negotiated political solution can generate a sustainable, peaceful end to the Syrian conflict."

The airstrike by Syrian government forces marks the largest death toll for Turkey in a single day since it first intervened in Syria in 2016. It's a major escalation in a conflict between Turkish and Russia-backed Syrian forces that has raged since early February.

At least 54 Turkish troops have now been killed in Idlib in that time.

Omer Celik, spokesperson for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party, said Turkey was "no longer able to hold refugees" following the Syrian attack — reiterating a longstanding warning from Erdogan that his country could not cope with the arrival of more people fleeing the conflict.

Greece, Bulgaria concerned about migrant flows

Turkey hosts some 3.6 million Syrians and under a 2016 deal with the European Union agreed to step up efforts to halt the flow of refugees to Europe. Since then, Erdogan has repeatedly threatened to "open the gates" in several disputes with European states.

DHA news agency reported that some 300 Syrians, Iranians, Iraqis, Moroccans and Pakistanis were gathering at the border with Greece, while others massed at beaches facing Greek islands off Turkey's western coast.

A Greek police official said dozens of people had gathered on the Turkish side of the land border in Greece's northeastern Evros region shouting "open the borders." Greek police and military border patrols were deployed on the Greek side to prevent anyone trying to cross without authorization.

Early Friday, broadcaster NTV showed images of dozens of people carrying rucksacks, suitcases and plastic bags, crossing fields toward the Greek frontier. Near the Pazarkule border crossing with Greece, Turkish police stopped some 150 refugees about a kilometre from the border, preventing them from going farther.

In Bulgaria, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that "army units, national guard and border police staff have been urgently deployed at the border with Turkey to beat off a possible migrant influx."

Greece reinforces border, uses tear gas to stop migrants trying to cross from Turkey

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Turkey defies deal with EU and lets migrants under pressure from Syrian war flee to Europe

A EU spokesperson said the bloc is waiting for an official analysis on the reports of migrant movements before acting. Peter Stano said that Turkey has not officially signalled that it is changing its migrant policy.

"We expect Turkey to uphold its commitments," Stano said.

Turkey's invasion of the north of the conflict-torn country — along with the criticism and threats of sanctions brandished by fellow allies at Ankara over the offensive — has come close to sparking a major crisis at NATO.

France in particular has tried to launch debate on what Turkey's allies should do if Ankara requests their assistance under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty — which requires all allies to come to the defence of another member under attack — but that discussion has not happened. The allies are extremely reluctant to be drawn into a conflict of Turkey's making.

LISTEN: Front Burner on Syria, Feb. 21

Front Burner22:01'No safe haven': The escalating crisis in Idlib, Syria

A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in Syria's Idlib province. Nearly one million people have been displaced since a Russian-backed Syrian government offensive began in December, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee to ever-shrinking camps along the border with Turkey. Today on Front Burner, we talk to CNN senior correspondent Arwa Damon, who was just in Idlib, about what she saw on the ground. “These are families that have been displaced multiple times,” she tells Jayme. “What makes this time so much more different is that it’s almost as if there is a sense of finality to it … they’re going to reach a point where they can’t run anymore.”

Russia on Friday said it was sending two warships armed with cruise missiles to waters off the Syrian coast and blamed Ankara for the deaths of the Turkish soldiers.

Russia's Defence Ministry was cited by the RIA news agency on Friday as saying that the Turkish troops had been hit by artillery fire from Syrian government forces who were trying to repel an offensive by rebel forces.

It was quoted as saying that Ankara had failed to notify Moscow of the presence of Turkish troops in the area hit by shelling despite being in regular communication with the Russian military.

Russian war planes did not carry out any airstrikes in the area at the time of the incident and Moscow did everything it could to help once it learnt of the Turkish troop presence, the ministry was cited as saying.

Meanwhile, two Russian frigates carrying cruise missiles are en route to the Syrian coast, Russian navy officials said.