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Six Turks killed by Syria regime shelling in Idlib: Ankara
ANKARA, Feb 3, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Five Turkish soldiers and a civilian
attached to the army were killed on Monday by Syrian forces’ shelling in the
northwestern region of Idlib, Turkey’s defence ministry said.
The ministry updated the toll from four after a soldier and the civilian
succumbed to their injuries. It said seven soldiers were also wounded.
The ministry said the soldiers came under attack despite coordinating their
location with the Syrian army.
“Those who conducted this heinous attack will be brought to account and we
will use our right to self-defence in any similar attack,” the ministry said
in a statement.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier said 30 to 35 Syrian troops
had been killed in retaliatory attacks.
Turkey has 12 observation posts in the region under an agreement with
Russia, which supports the Damascus government, and had reinforced the
positions on Sunday, according to local media.
Turkish broadcaster NTV reported that joint patrols planned in Kobane,
northern Syria with Russian forces on Monday had been cancelled. Turkish
Defence Minister Hulusi Akar was on his way to the Syrian border, the
ministry said on Twitter, joined by other high-ranking military personnel.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1818 hrs