Nineteen Syrian soldiers have been killed in Turkish drone strikes on Idlib, a UK-based monitor has said.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the attacks targeted a military convoy and an army base amid increasing violence.
Turkey also shot down two Syrian fighter jets on Sunday.
Russia, a key backer of the Syrian government, has warned it cannot guarantee the safety of Turkish aircraft in Syrian airspace.
Tensions in Idlib escalated sharply last week when at least 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in an air strike.
The incident sparked fears of a major escalation involving Turkey and Syria’s main military ally, Russia.
What happened on Sunday?
The pilots of the two Syrian jets brought down on Sunday parachuted to safety over Idlib province, where Turkish troops and rebels have been clashing with Syrian government forces.
Syria, meanwhile, announced that it had brought down three Turkish drones.
Syrian state news said the country was closing its airspace in the north west of the country and that any aircraft that violated this would “be considered a hostile aircraft which must be downed”.
Turkey, which backs rebels in Idlib, said it had also targeted Syrian air defence systems and dozens of tanks.
Turkey has stressed it does not want conflict with Russia during its latest operation in Idlib, dubbed “Spring Shield”.
Turkey claims 2,212 members of the Syrian forces have been “neutralised”, a term used to mean killed, wounded or captured.
But the SOHR said that just over 100 Syrian government troops and pro-Damascus fighters had been killed since 29 February.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin next week, despite strained relations.
What’s the context?
Syrian government forces, supported by Russia, have been trying to retake Idlib from jihadist groups and Turkish-backed rebel factions.
Idlib is the last Syrian province where Syrian rebel groups still control significant territory.
The Syrian government advance has displaced nearly a million civilians who have fled to areas near the Turkish border. Turkey says it is already hosting millions of refugees and does not have the resources to let more enter.
