By Agence France-Presse Syrian government forces surrounded a Turkish military observation post in the northwest on Friday after overrunning neighboring towns, upping the stakes with Ankara in its Russian-backed offensive against the jihadist-ruled Idlib region. Ankara has vowed it will not abandon any of the military obervation posts it maintains on the front lines around the rebel-held Idlib region and has warned Damascus "not to play with fire" "Will do whatever is necessary to ensure the security of our soldiers and observation posts," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters in AnkaraA convoy of Turkish military vehicles passes through the town of Saraqeb in the northwestern province of Idlib reportedly heading toward the town of Khan Sheikhun in the southern countryside of the province on August 19, 2019 (AFP / MANILA BULLETIN) Ankara vowed on Tuesday that it would not abandon any of 12 observation posts it established in the region under a deal with Damascus ally Moscow last and warned the Syrian government "not to play with fire". The town of Morek, where the Turkish troops have been cut off, lies in the north of Hama province, part of a jihadist-ruled region centered on neighboring Idlib province that has been under government assault since late April. Government forces took control of Morek and other nearby towns including Kafr Zita, state news agency SANA said. "Regime forces have surrounded the Turkish observation post in Morek after capturing other towns and villages in this pocket," the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Jihadists and allied rebels had withdrawn from the area ahead of the army's entry into the strategic town of Khan Sheikhoun on Wednesday and government forces took control without resistance. When troops entered Kfar Zita at dawn, they found the town "deserted", Observatory head Rami Abdul Rahman told AFP.