NSTworld: Turkey shot down two Syrian warplanes on Sunday in an escalating offensive against the Damascus regime.
Following weeks of violence in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, Turkey confirmed a full military operation against Russian-backed Syrian forces after 34 Turkish soldiers were killed last week in an air strike blamed on Damascus.
The situation in rebel-held Idlib was already volatile as the regime supported by Russian air power pressed an assault on the region in a bid to retake the last opposition enclave in a nine-year civil war. Under a 2018 deal with Russia meant to bring calm to Idlib, Turkey has 12 observation posts in Syria – but several have come under fire from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces.
Three of its journalists were also taken to a courthouse in Ankara for questioning, likely related to a Sputnik article in English claiming that Turkey’s Hatay province was “stolen” from Syria. Colonial power France ceded the southern region to Turkey in 1938.Turkish media said Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin would meet in Moscow on March 5. They already spoke by telephone last week when both expressed “concern” over the escalation.
An estimated additional 2,000 migrants arrived at the Pazarkule border gate Sunday, including Afghans, Syrians and Iraqis, according to an AFP reporter.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Turkey shoots down 2 Syrian planes over IdlibRetaliatory attacks have killed 74 Syrian soldiers and 14 allied fighters since Friday. FMTNews Turkey
Read more »
Turkey confirms military operation against Syrian regime | The Malaysian InsightTensions between the two countries soared after an airstrike blamed on Syria killed dozens of Turkish soldiers.
Read more »
Moscow and Ankara want 'reduction in tensions' after Syria strikeTensions have soared since 33 Turkish soldiers died Thursday in an airstrike in Syria. FMTNews Moscow Ankara
Read more »
Turkey-Russia tensions soar after deadly Syria strike | The Malaysian InsightThis comes after 33 Turkish soldiers died in an air strike in Idlib.
Read more »
Turkey downs 2 regime warplanes over northwest Syria | The Malaysian InsightAnkara’s military operations grind on after 30 soldiers die in Idlib airstrike.
Read more »
Greece fears migrant invasion from Turkey | The Malaysian InsightRecep Tayyip Erdogan raises stakes by vowing to allow refugees to travel to Europe as Syrian conflict intensifies.
Read more »