Turkish drones and artillery strike regime positions in Hama, Idlib and Aleppo

SOHR sources have reported that Turkish forces stepped up bombardment on regime positions, vehicles and military columns in Hama, Idlib and Aleppo. Turkish drones and artillery carried out intensive attacks targeting Al-Nayrab military airbase, the vicinity of Jam’eyyat Al-Zahraa in Aleppo city and countryside, areas in both southern and eastern countryside of Idlib, and Sahl Al-Ghab in north-west of Hama.

This escalation of military operations comes after shooting down two regime jets by Turkish forces over Idlib countryside. SOHR sources reported earlier this day that Turkish forces shot down two regime Sukhoi 24 jets while flying over Idlib countryside. The two jets fell on regime-held areas in Maarrat Al-Nu’man countryside and Jabal Al-Zawiyah after being hit with missiles believed to air-to-air fired by Turkish F-16 fighters flying over Syria border with Iskenderun region.

The fate of the downed jets’ crews has yet to be known.

On February 14, SOHR sources reported that the severely dismembered bodies of the crew of Syrian regime helicopter, which was shot down earlier in the area of Qabtan Al-Jabal northwest of Aleppo city, were found. The helicopter was shot by Turkish forces stationed in the area, using a guided missile.

SOHR sources reported three days earlier that a helicopter belonging to Syrian regime was shot down after being targeted by Turkish forces between the area of Al-Nayrab – Quminas in the north-eastern countryside of Idlib, flames were seen coming out of the helicopter while falling. The crew was killed, a pilot, co-pilot and two weapon specialists.