Assad’s fighter jets attack Turkish convoy

SYRIAN regime forces carried out an air strike near a Turkish military convoy yesterday, in a rare example of Damascus directly confronting Turkish troops operating inside Syria.

At least one pro-turkey fighter was killed in the strike and several were injured, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. It was not clear if the casualties were Turkish soldiers or Syrian rebels backed by Turkey.

The Syrian regime earlier condemned the convoy, which it said was carrying weapons for rebels fighting against Syrian forces in the town of Khan Sheikhoun, in the south of the opposition-held province of Idlib.

Syrian state media said the convoy was “heading towards Khan Sheikhoun to help the terrorists … which confirms once again the support by the Turkish regime to terrorist groups”.

There was no immediate comment from either Damascus or Ankara about the air strike. Videos on social media appeared to show the Turkish convoy had halted its advance and was waiting on the side of the motorway.

Turkish forces maintain outposts in Idlib, which they say are combatting jihadist groups and enforcing a ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia.

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