ANKARA, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Turkey is taking necessary measures along its border with Syria's Idlib province, where radical extremist groups has been in control, said Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim here on Friday.
"We are taking necessary measures along 150 km of Hatay's border with Syria in light of recent developments in that region ... to avoid humanitarian tragedies and security threats to our country," Yildirim said.
Turkey will not allow the existence of an "artificial state" at its southern border, and will defend its border against any threat, he stressed.
Turkish Customs Minister Bulent Tufenkci said Thursday Turkey would limit cross-border movement at the Bab al-Hawa crossing with Syria because the Syria side is controlled by a "terrorist group."
The al-Qaida linked al-Nusra Front group recently took control of the border area in Syria side from Ahrar al-Sham, which cooperates with the Turkey-supported Free Syrian Army, according to Hurriyet Daily News.
