Erdogan, Putin discuss killing of Turkish soldiers in Syria
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke via phone with his Russian counterpart about Thursday’s killing of three Turkish soldiers in Syria by a Syrian regime airstrike.
Turkish presidential sources cited by the Turkish press said the two leaders discussed the matter along with other issues, including the humanitarian crisis in Aleppo.
Turkey vowed on Thursday to retaliate over Damascus’ attack on its soldiers, however they did not say how they planned to do so.
The Kremlin press service said that Erdogan had made the call.
“The two leaders exchanged views on the settlement of the Syrian crisis in a constructive atmosphere. They agreed, in particular, to continue dialogue between the Russian and Turkish ministries of foreign affairs and defense, and between security services in order to ensure coordination of efforts in fighting against international terrorism,” the Kremlin said.
Russia has been backing the Syrian regime militarily since intervening in the war on September 2015. Turkey began its current incursion into Syria against ISIS and Syrian Kurdish militia forces last August 24. Thursday was the first time Turkish soldiers in Syria were attacked by the regime.
Turkish jet fighters are continuing to bomb ISIS militants in al-Bab, which Turkey hopes to capture using its Syrian rebel allies. Until last week Turkish jets briefly stopped flying airstrikes after Syria threatened to shoot them down. Hurriyet news reported last Sunday that Turkey continued its airstrikes after Ankara discussed the matter with Russian military officials.
Turkish presidential sources cited by the Turkish press said the two leaders discussed the matter along with other issues, including the humanitarian crisis in Aleppo.
Turkey vowed on Thursday to retaliate over Damascus’ attack on its soldiers, however they did not say how they planned to do so.
The Kremlin press service said that Erdogan had made the call.
“The two leaders exchanged views on the settlement of the Syrian crisis in a constructive atmosphere. They agreed, in particular, to continue dialogue between the Russian and Turkish ministries of foreign affairs and defense, and between security services in order to ensure coordination of efforts in fighting against international terrorism,” the Kremlin said.
Russia has been backing the Syrian regime militarily since intervening in the war on September 2015. Turkey began its current incursion into Syria against ISIS and Syrian Kurdish militia forces last August 24. Thursday was the first time Turkish soldiers in Syria were attacked by the regime.
Turkish jet fighters are continuing to bomb ISIS militants in al-Bab, which Turkey hopes to capture using its Syrian rebel allies. Until last week Turkish jets briefly stopped flying airstrikes after Syria threatened to shoot them down. Hurriyet news reported last Sunday that Turkey continued its airstrikes after Ankara discussed the matter with Russian military officials.