Turkish forces shoot down Syrian helicopter in Idlib, killing 3 pilots on board

03:26, February 12, 2020

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  Syrian government helicopter downed amid escalating tensions

  Rebel fighters and civilians inspect the wreckage of a Russian helicopter that had been shot down in the north of Syrias rebel-held Idlib province, Syria, August 1, 2016. (Photo: Reuters)Turkish-backed Syrian rebels shot down a government helicopter west of Aleppo in Syrias northwestern Idlib region, where violence and displacement have spiked in recent weeks, Turkish and Syrian state media said on Friday.A rebel military source and eyewitnesses told Reuters Russian jets had been targeting areas in the countryside west of Aleppo earlier on Friday, but they evacuated back to the city after the helicopter was downed."One of our military helicopters was hit by an enemy missile in the western countryside of Aleppo...where armed terrorist organizations supported by Turkey are deployed, and this led to the fall of the helicopter and death of its crew," Syrian state news agency SANA cited a military source as saying.The helicopter was struck as it flew over the front lines after leaving Aleppo, which is controlled by the government, Turkish state-owned Anadolu news agency said. Rebels downed another government helicopter on Tuesday near the town of Nairab, to the south.Syrian state-run al-Ikhbariya TV meanwhile broadcast what it said was its crew driving for the first time into Aleppo via the M5 international highway that has been a focal point of President Bashar al-Assads latest military campaign.Escalating tensions, Syrian advances updatesThe downing of the helicopter came as tensions between rebel-backer Turkey and Russia-supported Syria have beenrapidly escalating, with a series of tortuous hostilities between the two state armies culminating indirect mutual engagementon February 3.Turkeys military has reportedly sent additional arms and troops to Idlib, on its southern border, to confront a push by Russia-backed Syrian government forces to retake the countrys last major rebel stronghold after nearly nine years of w...

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  Erdogan, Putin hold phone talk over Syrian forces' attack in Idlib

  People searching for victims under the rubble of destroyed buildings that was hit by airstrikes in the northern town of Maaret al-Numan, in Idlib province, Syria. (Photo: AP)ISTANBUL, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday spoke to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the phone, a day after a Syrian attack on the Turkish soldiers in Idlib.Erdogan told Putin that the attack carried out by the Syrian government forces harmed the joint efforts for peace in Syria, the state-run TRT broadcaster said.The Turkish leader also noted Turkey would continue to use its right of self-defense against similar attacks in the toughest way.In retaliation for the Syrian attack that killed eight Turks on Monday, Turkey hit 54 targets and neutralized 76 Syrian soldiers in the Idlib region, the last rebel-held stronghold in Syria.

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  Turkish president threatens to attack Syrian forces 'everywhere' if Turkey's troops targeted

  (Photo: Xinhua)ANKARA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Turkish president threatened Wednesday to attack Syrian forces "everywhere" if Turkish soldiers are targeted again in the Idlib province of Syria."If any harm comes to our soldiers in observation posts or anywhere (in Syria), I declare that we will hit (Syrian) forces everywhere regardless of the Sochi deal," Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed his party members at the parliament.Erdogan was referring to the 12 observation posts established in Idlib aiming to monitor the cease-fire in the last rebel stronghold.The Turkish military will hit Syrian government forces by air or ground anywhere in Syria "without hesitation" in the case of another attack against Turkish troops, Erdogan warned.Turkey has recently sent reinforcements to Syria following several exchanges of fire with the Syrian forces, killing 13 Turkish soldiers in two separate incidents in Idlib since last week.Meanwhile, Turkeys Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced that a Turkish delegation will visit Russia to continue the previous talks between officials of the two countries in Ankara as part of efforts to calm down escalation in Idlib.