Turkey announces military operation “Spring Shield” against Syrian regime

Turkey has reportedly said on March 1 that it was carrying on a military operation dubbed “Spring Shield” in rthwest Syria after airstrikes on Thursday killed 34 Turkish soldiers. As per reports, Syrian military threatened to attack any aircraft over rthwest Syria after Turkish drones strikes killed dozens of pro-regime forces in war-afflicted region. According to state news ncy, Syrian military high command anunced closure of air for planes and any drone above rthwestern Syria and especially over Idlib region. 

RE: Turkey Claims 309 Syrian Troops 'neutralised' In Retaliatory Attack

Turkish drones killed 26 soldiers

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reportedly said that Turkish drones killed 26 soldiers in rthwest Syria on Saturday. After 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in an airstrike launched by Syrian regime forces on night of February 27, Ankara retaliated by “neutralising” 309 Syrian troops, said Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar. former chief of Turkish General Staff has reportedly claimed that Turkey destroyed five Syrian military helicopter, 23 tanks, 23 howitzers, and two air defence systems.

RE: Russian News ncy Staff Attacked, Detained In Turkey

Russia disputes Turkish claims

Akar said that attack on Turkish forces was launched despite fact that Ankara h shared coordinates of its troops with Kremlin. Defence Minister has alleged that Syrian troops continued ir strikes against Turkish forces and targeted ambulances even after warnings. Akar reportedly dismissed claims of presence of Syrian militants saying y didn’t have any or armed groups in premises.

Russian Defence Ministry reportedly contricted with claims me by Turkey saying Turkish troops were t supposed to be in area as per coordinates shared with Russia’s Reconciliation Center in Syria. Ministry, in counterclaim, said that Turkish troops came under fire because y were deployed among “terrorist battle formations”.

Russia and Turkey have been accusing each or of ceasefire violations and offensive in Idlib province. But situation in rthwestern Syria escalated following direct conflict between Turkish forces and Russia-backed Syrian regime troops.

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(with inputs from ncies)