According to Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s days in office are numbered. On Thursday Erdogan claimed Assad “and his inner circle” were on their way out, and their departure “would usher in a new era.”   

But Erdogan also made it clear that Turkey reserves the right to get involved in the process militarily, if need be. He did so by stating that Turkey can act against terrorists in Northern Syria if they are perceived as a threat (referring to Kurdish militants allegedly operating in that part of the country).

Erdogan’s predictions prompted renewed outcry from Russia, which still opposes U.N. sanctions against Syria and continues to believe the West is fueling the outcry against Assad.