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Turkey rejects Russian explanation over Idlib attack
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Turkey-backed Syrian fighters load their weapon at a position on outskits of the villages of Afis and Salihiyah situated near the regime-controlled town of Saraqib, in the eastern part of the Idlib province in northwestern Syria, on February 26, 2020. (AFP/Omar HAJ KADOUR)
T
urkey on Friday rejected Russia's claim that 33 Turkish troops killed by Syrian regime fire in the province of Idlib were among groups of "terrorists".
"I want to state that during this attack, there were no armed groups around our military units," Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said in televised remarks.
Russia's defence ministry had said that that the Turkish troops "were in the battle formations of terrorist groups" and had not communciated their presence in the area "where they should not have been".
But Akar said Thursday's strike in the northwestern province took place "despite coordination with Russian officials", adding that the bombardment continued despite "warning" of the Turkish troops' presence.
He said ambulances were also hit.
The latest incident has raised further tensions between Ankara and Moscow, whose relationship has been tested by violations of a 2018 deal to prevent a regime offensive on rebel-held Idlib.
As part of the agreement, Ankara set up 12 observation posts in the province but Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces -- backed by Russian air power -- have pressed on with a devastating assault on Idlib.
While Damascus ally Russia accuses rebel-backer Turkey of supporting "terrorists", Ankara has repeatedly urged Moscow to stop the regime violating the ceasefire.
The Turkish military immediately retaliated against regime targets, and Akar said over 200 regime targets had come under heavy fire from armed drones and other weapons.
Akar claimed over 300 regime elements had been "neutralised" while Turkey destroyed dozens of Syrian helicopters, tanks and howitzers.
Thirty-two soldiers were also wounded in Thursday's air strike.
