What Happened in Idlib in the Last Two Days?

* Photo: Archive - AA

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In an interview to the TASS news agency, President of Russia Vladimir Putin has said that "they do not plan to go to war with anyone."

As reported by Reuters news agency, Putin has indicated that "Russia does not plan to go to war with anyone, but wants to dissuade other countries from engaging in conflict with Moscow."

Stating that Russia has been making more investments in its army while other countries are doing the opposite, Putin has said that "its enemies are trying to catch up with Russia" in that regard.

The interview of Vladimir Putin to TASS has become a current issue after the airspace of Idlib has been shut down by Syria and the Ministry of Defense of Russia has stated that "they cannot guarantee the security of Turkish aircraft after Syria has closed the airspace over Idlib."

TASS has announced that the interview in question was made on February 20, but was published today (March 2).

Airspace over Idlib shut down

Yesterday, the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) reported that a plane of Syrian army was shot down in Syria's Idlib province.

While some videos on social media showed that an Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) of Turkey crashed in an area near Idlib controlled by the opposition forces, some of them were seen to be cheering over the downed UAV.

However, the state media of Syria denied that any aircraft of Syria was downed and said that the government forces downed a fighter jet of Turkey.

The state-run news agency of Syria, Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), reported that "it was a Turkish drone that entered the airspace of Syria."

BBC reporter: 'They might have mistaken it for a Syrian jet'

Based on the news reported by reporter Paul Adams from the region, BBC Turkish wrote that there was no evidence suggesting that an aircraft of Syrian government was shot down in Idlib.

Considering that the UAV crashed in an area controlled by the opposition groups, Adams indicated that some of them might have cheered over the downed drone as they mistook it for a jet of Syrian army.

Turkey's Defense Ministry: Two aircraft downed over Idlib

In the afternoon on the same day, the state media of Syria announced that the soldiers of Turkey targeted two aircraft of Syria over Idlib and the pilots managed to jump with parachutes.

No details were shared in the news reports shared by Reuters and AFP news agencies based on a news report by SANA news agency.

Around 10 minutes after that, the Ministry of National Defense of Turkey made a statement on Twitter and announced that "Turkey downed two regime fighter jets in Idlib." "[...] Two SU-24 regime jets were downed after attacking our jets," the ministry said in its statement.

It added that an air-defense system, which downed a Turkish armed drone, and two other air-defense systems were also destroyed.

Airspace shut down

In evening hours, the Syrian army imposed a no-fly-zone over Idlib, stating that any hostile aircraft would be targeted, according to the SANA.

The airspace over northwestern Syria, particularly Idlib, was closed to any flight or drones and any aircraft violating the airspace would be dealt with as a hostile target and will be shot down, said the statement further.

SOHR said 19 people lost their lives

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) announced that 19 soldiers of Syrian army lost their lives in the attacks that were carried out by the AUVs of Turkey in Idlib.

The Observatory also added that the soldiers were killed in two attacks that targeted a military convoy in Jabal al-Zawiya and a military base near the province of Maarat al-Numan.

Statement by Russia's Ministry of Defense

In a statement released by the Ministry of National Defense of Russia today (March 2), it has been announced that Russia cannot guarantee the safety of Turkey's aircraft in the region as the airspace over Idlib has been shut down.

As reported by Russia's Sputnik news agency, the Defence Ministry of Russia has announced that "it can no longer guarantee the safety of Turkish aircraft flying over northern Syria, after Damascus moved to close the airspace over the embattled province of Idlib."

Operation statement by Minister Akar

As reported by Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), Turkey's Minister of Defense Hulusi Akar has announced that Turkey has launched a fresh Syria operation in the wake of the recent regime attack in Idlib.

"Operation Spring Shield, which was launched following the heinous attack [on Turkish troops] on Feb. 27 is successfully being carried out," Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said as he was commanding the operation from Turkey's southern Hatay province, bordering Syria.

Regarding the details of the operation, Akar said that "a drone, eight helicopters, 103 tanks, 19 armored personnel carriers, 72 cannons/howitzers/multiple rocket launchers, three air-defense systems, 15 anti-tanks/mortars, 56 armored vehicles, nine ammunition depots and 1,212 regime soldiers and elements had been neutralized so far."

Erdoğan and Putin to meet on Idlib

President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will once again meet in Russia on March 5 to hold new round of talks on Idlib.

The two leaders spoke over the phone last week and they "expressed their concerns" about the latest situation in Idlib.

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has also stated that he hopes the Erdoğan-Putin meeting will take place on Thursday or Friday, the meeting will be "tough"; however, it will still be "important."

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(TP/SD)