'We fought Russia 16 times and will fight it again,' Erdoğan's advisor says after Idlib attack

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's advisor Mesut Hakkı Çaşın has said that Turkey fought Russia 16 times in the past and "will fight it again," after an attack by the Syrian army killed Turkish troops. Caşın pointed to Russia’s sizeable Muslim population and claimed that the country "will be shattered from inside” should an armed conflict break out between Moscow and Ankara.

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's advisor Mesut Hakkı Çaşın has said that Turkey fought Russia 16 times in the past and "will fight it again," after an attack by the Syrian army killed Turkish troops.

"We have fought Russia 16 times in the past, and we will fight it again," he told pro-government A Haber on Feb. 28.

Caşın pointed to Russia’s sizeable Muslim population and claimed that the country "will be shattered from inside” should an armed conflict break out between Moscow and Ankara.

Russia and Turkey have waged several major wars since the 16th century. The last time the two nations fought against each other was during WWI (1914-1918).

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