Talks as 33 troops killed in air strikes

THE PRESIDENTS of Turkey and Russia have spoken over the phone to try to defuse tensions in Syria after 33 Turkish troops were killed in a Syrian government air strike.

The attack marked the deadliest day for the Turkish military since Ankara first entered the Syrian conflict in 2016 and was also the most serious escalation between Turkish and Russianbacked Syrian forces.

Nato envoys held emergency talks at the request of Turkey, a Nato member. Turkey’s 28 allies also expressed their condolences over the deaths and urged de-escalation, but no additional Nato support was offered.

Apart from providing some aerial surveillance over Syria, Nato plays no direct role in the conflict, but its members are deeply divided over Turkey’s actions there, and European allies are concerned about any new wave of refugees.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country already hosts more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, has long threatened to “open the gates” for millions to flee to Europe unless more international support was provided.

Greece and Bulgaria have increased security at their borders with Turkey in preparation for an influx.

The crisis stems from a Syrian government offensive that began on December 1 with Russian military support to retake Idlib province, the last oppositionheld stronghold in Syria. Turkey, the main backer of the Syrian opposition, has lost 54 soldiers this month and now feels the need to respond strongly.

Thursday’s attack sharply raised the risk of direct military confrontation between Turkey and Russia, although Turkish officials blamed Syria for the air strike. The Turkish stock market fell 10 per cent, while the Turkish lira slid against the dollar.

In their phone call, Mr Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed implementing agreements in Idlib, the Kremlin said. Fahrettin Altun, Mr Erdogan’s director of communications, said they had agreed to meet “as soon as possible”.

Two Russian frigates armed with cruise missiles are en route to the Syrian coast. The Admiral Makarov and the Admiral Grigorovich of the Black Sea Fleet both previously took part in Russia’s offensive in Syria.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said the Turkish troops that came under fire were deployed among “terrorist battle formations”. They were in the area of Behun, and according to co-ordinates given to Russia’s Reconciliation Centre in Syria, “there were no Turkish military units in the area ... and there weren’t supposed to be,” the ministry said,

Russian air forces did not carry out air strikes in the area and took measures in order for the Syrian forces to stop the fire.