2 warplanes belonging to Assad regime downed in Syria's Idlib

Two fighter jets belonging to the Bashar al-Assad regime were downed in the northwestern Idlib province, the local sources to reporters on Sunday.

Turkey's Defense Ministry said it had shot down two SU-24 aircrafts that belong the bloody-minded regime and destroyed air defense systems after one of its aerial drones was downed.
Earlier, the pro-Assad news agency said two of regime warplanes were shot down by Turkey-led forces inside northwest Syria.

The Syrian announcement came after two days of Turkish drone attacks in Idlib province that Syrian activists said caused heavy losses to Syrian government forces.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said the two Sukhoi jets fell in regime-held territory, likely after being targeted by Turkish F-16 planes.

Youssef Hammoud, a spokesman for the National Syrian Army -- a pro-Turkish group -- said two Sukhoi 24 planes were brought down, also without saying who was responsible.

The downings come after Turkey announced a military operation in northwest Syria after regime air strikes on Thursday killed over 30 Turkish soldiers.
Turkish forces have been hitting the regime targets in Idlib in the recent weeks. In February, a total of 55 Turkish soldiers were martyred in the regime attacks, including air strikes, in Idlib.

The regime air strikes are part of a major assault to capture the province, part of the last remaining territory held by rebels backed by Turkey.

Neighbouring Turkey already hosts around 3.6 million Syrian refugees, and is reluctant to let more in.

Tensions have also spiked in recent weeks between Ankara and Moscow, whose relationship has been tested by violations of a 2018 deal to prevent a regime offensive on Idlib.

Turkey deployed troops to observation posts in northwest Syria under that deal.

Syria's war has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced millions since it started in 2011 with the repression of anti-government protests.