Erdoğan says Ankara retaliating after Syrian shelling killed Turkish troops

Turkey will continue to retaliate against attacks on its forces in Syria's northwest Idlib region, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Feb. 3, after six Turkish soldiers were killed and seven others were wounded in Syrian government shelling.

"Turkey has responded in kind to the attack in Idlib, and will continue to do so," Erdoğan told reporters before departing for Ukraine.

The president said Turkish artillery hit some 46 targets in Syria.

Erdoğan stated Turkish warplanes were also involved and claimed that there were between 30 and 35 casualties on the Syrian side.

"Those who test Turkey's determination with such vile attacks will understand their mistake," Erdoğan said. He noted Russia was told that Ankara would not stand for any "situation where we are prevented" from responding to Syrian assaults.

"We can't remain silent when our soldiers are being martyred," he said.

The president said Turkey had told Russian counterparts "they need to stand aside" in the escalating conflict, in which Ankara and Moscow are back opposing sides.

Syrian regime's forces, backed by Russian airpower, have recently made advances in Idlib.

Erdoğan said on Jan. 31 that Turkey may launch a military operation there unless the fighting is halted.

The exchange between Ankara and Damascus came hours after a large Turkish military convoy entered the northwestern province of Idlib. Turkey has reinforced Idlib, which lies just across its southern border with Syria, in a challenge to Damascus and its Russian backers.

Turkey's Defense Ministry said the Turkish forces were sent to Idlib as reinforcement and were attacked there despite prior notification of their coordinates to the local authorities. It said Turkish forces...

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