5 Turkish soldiers killed, 5 injured by Assad regime in Syria's Idlib

Five Turkish soldiers were killed and five others wounded when Assad regime militias hit a Turkish observation point at eastern Idlib's Taftanaz Airport with heavy artillery, the Defense Ministry said Monday (February 10).

According to the ministry's statement, Turkish forces were retaliating after the strike at the airport.

During the last 24 hours, Russian warplanes have killed at least 26 civilians and injured 44 others in Abin Semaan, Urem al-Kubra, Sheikh Ali, Atarib and Jisr al-Shughur in Aleppo and Idlib countryside. 

Last week, an Assad regime attack in Idlib killed seven Turkish soldiers and one civilian contractor working with the Turkish military and injured over a dozen people.

In retaliation, Turkey struck over 50 targets and killed 76 Assad militiamen.

Idlib has been a stronghold of opposition and anti-government armed groups since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011.

In September 2018, Turkey and Russia agreed to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.

Based on DS