(20 Feb 2020) Russia and Turkey are staying in contact despite the tensions in Idlib province, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at her regular press briefing on Thursday. "As for the contacts with the Turkish partners, we, including diplomats and military experts, are in touch every day on a number of areas. These contacts aren't cut off. I can tell you for sure there are no breaks in these contacts," she said.
Two Turkish soldiers were killed Thursday by an airstrike in northwestern Syria, according to Turkey's Defence Ministry, following a large-scale attack by Ankara-backed opposition forces that targeted Syrian government troops.
The Russian military said the militants had launched a massive offensive on Syrian positions near Nairab, under the cover of Turkish artillery, adding that four Syrian soldiers were wounded in the shelling.
The Russian military added that at the Syrian military's request, Russian Su-24 bombers then struck the militants to prevent them from advancing, allowing Syrian government forces to "successfully repel all attacks."
It was not immediately clear whether it was the Russian airstrikes that killed the two Turkish soldiers.
The exchange marked a serious escalation that risks escalating into a full-blown conflict between Turkey and Syria.
It also comes amid faltering talks between Turkish and Russian officials on restoring calm to the Idlib area.
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