Escalation in hostilities in Syria: 4 Turkish soldiers killed in shelling of Assad regime
According to the Ankara Defense Ministry, another nine soldiers were wounded in battles in Idlib, and the Turkish army responded immediately, destroying targets. Erdogan accused Russia of violating ceasefire agreement and threatened to launch military operation
Escalation in hostilities in Syria: 4 Turkish soldiers killed in shelling of Assad regime
Photo: Reuters, edited by Tal ReznikFour Turkish soldiers were killed Monday, and nine others were injured in the shelling of Syrian government forces in Idlib province, Turkey's Defense Ministry said. According to the announcement, Turkish forces responded immediately, destroying targets in northwestern Syria, bordering Turkey. Ankara did not specify the nature of the response.
The forces of Syrian ruler Bashar Assad, backed by the Russian air force, have recently advanced in Idlib province, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Ankara could launch a military operation in the region if the fighting is not stopped. Turkey's president recently accused Russia of violating the ceasefire agreements in the province, which is the last major stronghold of the rebels, but Moscow denied it last Friday.
Turkey, which already has 3.6 million refugees from Syria, fears a new wave of refugees from Idlib. It has 12 military observation posts in the area, set up under a 2017 agreement signed with Russia and Iran. Some have since been headlined by Assad military forces. According to a statement from the Turkish Ministry of Defense, the bombing by Syrian government forces has "damaged our troops sent as reinforcements to prevent clashes in Idlib, even though it was compatible before."
More in Walla! NEWS More in Walla! NEWSThe pound collapses, and Syria begins to subsidize the subsidized food
To the full articleSyrian Army forces in Aleppo province, last month (Photo: AP)
Syrian Army Forces in West Aleppo, January 27, 2020 (Photo: AP)