Syrian army intensifies attacks in Idlib despite Turkish warnings

Five Turkish soldiers have been killed in an attack carried out on a military base in Idlib province by Syrian government forces.

The Turkish military retaliated by hitting 115 Syrian government targets. Turkey’s defence ministry said in a statement that it had “neutralised” 101 Syrian military personnel, and that that the response was carried out “under the rules of engagement and legitimate self-defence”.

The “regime’s intense artillery fire targeted our elements sent as reinforcement to the region with an aim to prevent clashes in Idlib, ensure our border security and stop migration and human tragedy”, the ministry said.

Last week, 13 Syrian soldiers were reportedly killed by Turkish forces in Idlib. The attack  came in retaliation for an earlier strike by Syrian troops that killed 8 Turkish soldiers. After the death of Turkish soldiers, the country’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed that Turkey’s offensive in Idlib would continue.

According to the United Nations, the violence has killed more than 300 civilians and has displaced approximately 600,000 people since December, when Syria’s government forces have pressed an assault against the Idlib region with Russian support, retaking town after town despite warnings from Turkey, which is allied with the rebels, to stop.