© Reuters
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar
Turkey's defense minister said on March 1 that his country was "successfully" continuing its military operation in northwestern Syria against the Russian-backed regime in Damascus and that Ankara doesn't have "the desire or intention to clash with Russia."
Within hours of that statement, reports from Syria claimed that Turkish forces had downed Syrian warplanes as concerns mounted of an escalation of direct clashes between NATO member Turkey and forces of Russian ally Syria.
Turkish military forces announced an intensification of their campaign via Operation Spring Shield after 34 Turkish soldiers were killed in a Syrian air strike in the Idlib region, where Russian air power has been used to help forces loyal to embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
"Following the heinous attack on February 27 in Idlib,
Operation Spring Shield successfully continues," Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar was quoted by AFP as saying via state news agency Anadolu, adding, "We don't have the desire or intention to clash with Russia."
Idlib is part of the last remaining Syrian territory held by Turkey-backed rebels.
Later on March 1, after
Syria's government said it was closing the airspace in the northwestern part of the country, Damascus alleged that Turkey had "targeted" two of its jets over Syrian airspace.
Comment: The Turkish Defense Ministry
confirmed the attack on the two Syrian fighter jets, saying it came after Syrian air defenses destroyed one of Turkey's combat drones (illegally) flying over Idlib. The Syrians say they downed three Turkish drones today (other reports suggest as many as six.)
The Syrian Army says they will
down any aircraft breaching their airspace:
"The command of the armed forces declares closure of airspace for planes and other aircraft over northwestern Syria and especially the Idlib province. All planes violating our airspace will be considered hostile and shot down to prevent them from fulfilling [their] objectives," the command said in a statement as quoted by state-run SANA news agency.
In a separate development, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that media reports about the alleged downing of a Russian Su-24 above the de-escalation zone in Idlib are false.
"The information, referencing internet sites of the militants, about an alleged downing of the Russian Aerospace Forces' Su-24 plane by a man-portable air defence system in the airspace over the Idlib de-escalation zone is fake," the ministry said in a statement.
Here's Moscow's
response to Erdogan's request that Russia "get out of the way" in Idlib:
"Russia is the only country which has troops in Syria on a legal basis and at the request of the legitimate Syrian government," Peskov said, speaking to Russia 1's Moscow.Kremlin.Putin programme on Sunday when asked to comment on President Erdogan's remarks about what "business" Russia has in Syria.
"All other military forces of other countries are in Syria in contravention of the norms and principles of international law," Peskov added.
Diplomat-speak for "get bent."
Comment: Homeward bound? Not until the boots actually touch American soil.