Russia-backed Syrian assault on Idlib: Tensions, death toll spike

Tensions flared in Syria yesterday after five Turkish soldiers were killed by Syrian regime artillery fire in the northwestern province of Idlib, the last major rebel bastion.

Another five soldiers were wounded in the “intense assault that 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,” Turkey’s defence ministry said in a statement.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The Turkish army retaliated, it added, “destroying targets.”

This is the second such incident in a week after eight Turkish military personnel were killed in regime shelling in Idlib last Monday.

The latest attack is likely to further raise tensions between Ankara and Damascus. Ankara has previously warned Syria against any attacks on its posts.

It comes amid heightened bombardment by the regime and Russia which left 29 civilians dead in less than 24 hours. Six children were among nine civilians killed early yesterday in raids on the village of Abin Semaan, in Aleppo province where Russian-backed regime forces have been waging a fierce offensive to retake a key highway, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Turkey and Russia have worked closely despite being on opposing sides of the war, and the two agreed previously on a deal to avert an offensive by Syrian government forces.

Under that deal, Turkey set up 12 observation posts in Idlib. Turkey has beefed up those positions in recent days by sending at least 350 vehicles with commandos backed by armoured vehicles.

But the regime supported by Moscow has intensified an assault against the last major rebel bastion, home to an estimated three million, for more than two months.

The UN yesterday said close to 700,000 people in northwest Syria have been displaced since December. Many of those have been forced to flee towards Turkey, which is already hosts over 3.5 million refugees.

Ankara fears a renewed surge of violence could cause a new flow to Turkey, which could be politically damaging to Erdogan at a time when Turks are facing economic hardship.