BEIRUT: Syrian state media denied a government plane was brought down on Sunday and said the army had downed a Turkish drone over the town of Saraqeb in the Idlib region of northwest Syria.
Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu Agency said earlier on Sunday that a Syrian government plane was downed in Idlib.

Turkey added that it is “successfully” continuing its military operation against the Russian-backed Syrian regime in Idlib, but insisted it did not wish to clash with Moscow.
“Following the heinous attack on February 27 in Idlib, operation ‘Spring Shield’ successfully continues,” Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar was quoted as saying by state news agency Anadolu.
“We don’t have the desire or intention to clash with Russia,” the minister added.

Turkish forces have been hitting Syrian government targets in Idlib in the recent weeks. In February, a total of 55 Turkish soldiers were killed in Syrian government attacks, including air strikes, in Idlib.
The government forces’ air strikes are part of a major assault to capture the province, part of the last remaining territory held by rebels backed by Turkey.

Reuters