Iran Press/Middle East: Syrian forces on Wednesday encircled and entered Saraqeb, 15 km east of Idlib city. The town lies at the junction of two main roads at Idlib province, the last terrorist bastion.
According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, militant groups attack the Syrian Army from the northern part of the town in cooperation with the Turkish Army shelling against advancing government forces.
Witnesses said government forces came under shelling from Turkish observation posts in the area.
The Turkish military intervention in Syrian soil that supports the militant groups in the Syrian internal conflict taking place despite a Jan. 12 ceasefire deal between Turkey and Russia, disrupted fragile cooperation between the two countries.
The Kremlin said on Thursday that militants in Turkey’s 'zone of responsibility' in Idlib province were continuing to attack Syrian government forces and Russian military infrastructure.
Russia also said some of its troops had been killed in the militant attacks, its first confirmation of casualties in the current round of fighting.
Syria says Turkey of 'colluding with Israel' to coordinate attacks
Early on Thursday, Syrian air defenses intercepted Israeli missiles over Damascus that were fired at military targets in southern Syria including near the capital, the Syrian defense ministry said.
It said the attacks by Israeli warplanes occurred in two waves, one near Damascus and another near Deraa and Quneitra provinces.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry has accused Israel and Turkey of working together to target Syria and coordinate their attacks. Syria’s statement came following reports that Turkish troops were deployed to Idlib amid airstrikes conducted by Israel on Damascus.
Syria accused Turkey of protecting the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front in Idlib.
The Turkish military convoy was deployed between the towns of Binnesh, Marrat Masrin, and Taftanaz to protect “the terrorists of Nusra Front,” said the statement shared by Syria’s official news agency SANA.
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