Turkish soldiers die in Syria army shelling

Turkish defense ministry say four soldiers were killed and nine were wounded, one of them seriously, in intense shelling by Syrian government forces in Syria’s northwestern Idlib region on Monday.

In a statement defence ministry states that Turkish forces retaliated immediately, destroying targets in the Idlib region.

Syrian president Bashar Al-assad’s forces, backed by Russian air power, have recently made advances in Idlib and president Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday Turkey may launch a military operation there unless the fighting is halted.

Defence office said the shelling by Syrian government forces was carried out against elements sent as reinforcements to prevent clashes in Idlib, despite their positions being coordinated beforehand.

Erdogan accuses Russia of violating agreements to reduce the fighting in the region, a charge which Moscow denied on Friday.