As it became increasingly clear that Syrians were not imminently leaving Turkey, the Turkish government formalized the Temporary Protection Regulation in 2014. It allowed Syrian nationals access to the Turkish education and health care systems and laid the groundwork for them to pursue employment if they could secure work permits.

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday urged all countries to "take their hands off" Syria and said Turkey had the capacity and ability to crush all terrorist organisations in the country, including Kurdish militia and Islamic State.

The overthrow of Bashar al-Assad has led to a face-off between Turkey and Israel in Syria, where both countries have deployed forces. Relations between Turkey and the Jewish state were already strained over the Gaza war,

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Friday that the new Syrian administration should be given an opportunity to address the presence of Kurdish militants in the country, and reiterated that the Turkish military would act if it did not.

Turkey threatened Tuesday to launch a military operation against Kurdish forces in Syria unless they accepted Ankara's conditions for a "bloodless" transition after the fall of strongman president Bashar al-Assad.

Since a rebellion in Syria last month ousted President Bashar Al-Assad, Turkey-backed Syrian forces have occasionally clashed in the north with US-backed Kurdish forces that Ankara also deems terrorists.

DUBAI - Syria will receive two electricity-generating ships from Turkey and Qatar to boost energy supplies hit by damage to infrastructure during President Bashar al-Assad's rule, state news agency SANA quoted an official as saying on Tuesday.

Hundreds of Syrian refugees in Turkey are making a return to Syria every day, according to the Turkish Interior Ministry. But the majority are waiting to see how the new leadership takes shape.

A high-ranking Syrian delegation, led by interim Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, wrapped up a landmark visit to Turkey this week, signaling a thaw in relations after more than a decade of estrangement.

Turkey is allowing one adult per Syrian family to return after visiting their homeland, but experts warn that easing restrictions may not lead to significant refugee returns amid ongoing uncertainties in Syria.

Al-Shaibani is visiting Turkey for the first time as Syria foreign minister, as the interim government continues to clash with remaining Assad loyalists.

Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad were allegedly communicating before rebels took over the Syrian government in December.