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Syrian civil war: 'Three killed' in attack on Turkish convoy | Syrian civil war: 'Three killed' in attack on Turkish convoy |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Syrian government air strike aiming to stop a Turkish convoy reaching a rebel-held town in northern Syria has killed three civilians, Turkey alleges. | A Syrian government air strike aiming to stop a Turkish convoy reaching a rebel-held town in northern Syria has killed three civilians, Turkey alleges. |
Another 12 people were injured in the attack in Idlib province on Monday, the Turkish defence ministry said. | Another 12 people were injured in the attack in Idlib province on Monday, the Turkish defence ministry said. |
Idlib, one of the few areas not under government control, was supposed to be protected by a buffer zone agreed with rebel-backing Turkey last year. | |
But government assaults have been on the increase since April. | |
Hundreds of civilians have already been killed as a result, and there are fears many more will die if the situation continues to escalate. | |
"This is our worst nightmare coming true," Jan Egeland, from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), told the BBC. | |
"We have for years now warned against the ultimate catastrophe being Idlib, where there was no escape for three million civilians. There are some very bad militants inside. | |
"But a wholesale attack on this area of Idlib and adjacent northern Hama would mean that a million children would come in horrific crossfire, and it's that that now seems to be happening." | |
Why is Turkey sending a convoy into Syria? | |
Turkey, which backs some, but not all, the rebels, has forces in Idlib as part of last year's agreement with Russia. | |
According to Naji Mustafa, a spokesman for the National Liberation Front rebel grouping, the convoy was heading to one of its observation points with "reinforcements" when the attack took place. | |
An AFP correspondent who saw the convoy reported it included about 50 armoured vehicles, at least five of which were tanks. | |
But Syria has said the convoy's arrival in the region is an act of aggression. It said the munitions would not stop government forces "hunting the remnants of terrorists". | |
According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a Russian aircraft carried out strikes near the convoy on 19 August. | |
Turkey has said the attack breaches last year's agreement, with the incident raising fears of direct clashes between the countries. | |
Why is this happening now? | |
After eight years of war, the Syrian government is trying to win back control of the last rebel-held areas. | After eight years of war, the Syrian government is trying to win back control of the last rebel-held areas. |
Government forces, backed by Russia, reportedly entered the northwest outskirts of Khan Sheikhoun on Sunday. | Government forces, backed by Russia, reportedly entered the northwest outskirts of Khan Sheikhoun on Sunday. |
Khan Sheikhoun, which was hit by a Sarin gas attack in 2017, lies on a highway connecting Damascus to Aleppo and is a strategically important town in the south of the province. | |
If it is captured, it will mean the Syrian regime has effectively encircled a rebel-held area to the south, which includes a Turkish observation post in the town of Morek. | |
Mr Mustafa told AFP the convoy was heading to Morek. | |
Syrian forces have now massed to both the east and west of Khan Sheikhoun, and air strikes are targeting the centre and surrounding villages. | Syrian forces have now massed to both the east and west of Khan Sheikhoun, and air strikes are targeting the centre and surrounding villages. |
Last week a Syrian government war plane was shot down in the area, hit by an anti-aircraft missile fired by militants, according to Syrian state news agency Sana. | Last week a Syrian government war plane was shot down in the area, hit by an anti-aircraft missile fired by militants, according to Syrian state news agency Sana. |
Jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has claimed responsibility and released footage purportedly showing the captured pilot. | Jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has claimed responsibility and released footage purportedly showing the captured pilot. |
A colonel from a rebel faction confirmed to Reuters news agency that there were battles going on on the outskirts. Fighters from a Turkish-backed rebel force have joined the defence, he said. | A colonel from a rebel faction confirmed to Reuters news agency that there were battles going on on the outskirts. Fighters from a Turkish-backed rebel force have joined the defence, he said. |