Idlib: Two Turkish troops and 50 Syrian forces killed in airstrikes

A Turkish defence spokesman said five tanks were destroyed in the strikes

The M4 highway nearly empty near the rebel-held town of Ariha in the northern countryside of Syria's Idlib province. AFP

Syrian youths sit in the back of a truck loaded with belongings, passing through the town of Hazano in Idlib's northern countryside. AFP

Syrian army soldiers advance in Tall Touqan village, in Syria's northwestern Idlib province, about 45 kilometres southwest of Aleppo AFP

Syrian army soldiers advance in Tall Touqan village, in Syria's northwestern Idlib province, about 45 kilometres southwest of Aleppo AFP

Syrian army soldiers advance in Tall Touqan village, in Syria's northwestern Idlib province, about 45 kilometres southwest of Aleppo AFP

Syrian army soldiers advance in Tall Touqan village, in Syria's northwestern Idlib province, about 45 kilometres southwest of Aleppo. AFP

An aerial view shows the rebel-held town of Ariha in the northern countryside of Syria's Idlib province following an air strike by pro-regime forces. AFP

An aerial view shows the aftermath of an air strike by pro-regime forces on the rebel-held town of Ariha in the northern countryside of Syria's Idlib province. AFP

An aerial view shows nearly empty streets in the rebel-held town of Ariha in the northern countryside of Syria's Idlib province following an air strike by pro-regime forces. AFP

A picture shows a view of the rebel-held town of Ariha in the northern countryside of Syria's Idlib province following an air strike by pro-regime forces. AFP

A Syrian man walks in a deserted street in the rebel-held town of Ariha in the northern countryside of Syria's Idlib province following an air strike by pro-regime forces. AFP

A damaged building in the rebel-held town of Ariha in the northern countryside of Syria's Idlib province following an air strike by pro-regime forces. AFP

A Syrian man rides his motorcycle past a damaged building following an air strike by pro-regime forces on the rebel-held town of Ariha in the northern countryside of Syria's Idlib province. AFP

A picture shows the aftermath of an air strike by pro-regime forces on the rebel-held town of Ariha in the northern countryside of Syria's Idlib province. AFP

Syrians flee the rebel-held town of Ariha in the northern countryside of Syria's Idlib province following an air strike by pro-regime forces. AFP

Deserted merchandise stalls in the rebel-held town of Ariha in the northern countryside of Syria's Idlib province following an air strike by pro-regime forces. AFP

Two Turkish soldiers and as many as 50 Syrian troops has been killed in an airstrike in Syria’s Idlib province Turkey’s Defense Ministry said Thursday.

The deaths bring to 15 the number of Turkish soldiers killed in Idlib since the Turkish incursion in December 2019.

A ministry statement posted Thursday on Twitter said Turkey’s military is responding to the attack. It did not provide further details, or say where in Idlib the attack occurred.

The ministry claimed five more Turkish troops were injured and five tanks, two armored personnel carriers and other equipment were destroyed.

The Russian military said militants in Idlib had launched a massive offensive on Syrian army positions near Nairab, under the cover of Turkish artillery, adding that four Syrian soldiers were wounded by the Turkish artillery barrage.

“The militants’ actions were supported by the Turkish artillery fire, which allowed the militants to break through the Syrian army’s defenses,” it said in a statement.

The military added that at the Syrian military’s request, Russian Su-24 bombers then struck the militants to prevent them from advancing and allowing Syrian government forces to “successfully repel all attacks.”

It was not immediately clear whether it was the Russian airstrikes that killed the two Turkish soldiers

"The blood of our martyrs has not been left on the ground as it has been until today, and it will not be left after that," the Turkish Defence Ministry wrote on Twitter.

"We extend our condolences and patience to our cherished martyrs who lost their lives, to their troubled families, to the noble nation with the TAF, and to urgent healing for our injured personnel."

It came as Moscow on Thursday urged Turkey to stop "supporting terrorists" in Syria, saying Russian planes had carried out air strikes against armed groups backed by Ankara.

"We urge the Turkish side, in order to avoid incidents, to cease support of the actions of terrorists and handing them arms," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.