Turkish Military Shoots Down 2 Syrian Fighter Jets... 'Is a New Phase of the Syrian Civil War Beginning?'

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The Turkish military launched a large-scale attack, shooting down Syrian military fighter jets. The possibility of a full-scale war between Turkey and Syria has increased significantly.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

According to foreign media on the 1st (local time), the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced that in retaliation against the Syrian government forces, two Syrian government Su-24 fighter jets were shot down, and the Syrian ground forces also suffered considerable damage. Earlier, on the 27th of last month, the Syrian government air force bombed Turkish troops stationed in the Idlib area in northwestern Syria, killing 36 Turkish soldiers.

Syrian rebel forces, backed by the Turkish military, also launched offensives, regaining a significant portion of the territory that had been lost to the Syrian government forces over the past few weeks.

In particular, the Turkish military used drones to attack Syrian government airbases and military facilities, striking the Syrian government’s air defense systems. The Turkish military stated that so far, their attacks have eliminated 2,200 Syrian government troops and destroyed 103 tanks and 6 missile defense systems, among other heavy weapons.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

The Turkish military had previously declared that it would retaliate if the Syrian government forces continued their offensive in the Idlib area. Turkey had demanded that the Syrian government forces withdraw to observation posts established within the de-escalation zone. These posts, totaling 12, were created in 2018 by Turkey, Russia, Iran, and others to establish a de-escalation zone in the Idlib area and monitor military activities. Since the Syrian government forces intensified their offensive in the Idlib area from the end of last year, these observation posts have become surrounded like islands by Syrian government forces.

Russia, which has been supporting the Syrian government forces, has refrained from intervening in this Turkish military offensive. The Washington Post (WP) and others reported that despite the Syrian government forces being attacked, Russia has remained passive, marking the first time since the Syrian government’s offensive in Idlib last year. Russia is avoiding direct confrontation with Turkey.

The ground war situation remains fluid, as it is still difficult to assess the achievements of the Syrian rebel forces. However, since the Turkish military’s involvement began, the one-sided offensive by the government forces has ended. In some areas, the Syrian rebel forces, who had been pushed back unilaterally, have launched counterattacks and recaptured some territories.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Europe also held an emergency foreign ministers’ meeting regarding the situation in the Syrian civil war. This came after Turkey announced that it would not prevent 4 million Syrian refugees within its borders from heading to Europe. The Turkish government warned that if the European Union (EU) does not actively intervene in the situation in the Idlib area, a massive refugee crisis could occur in Europe.

At the EU foreign ministers’ meeting, concerns were expressed about the ongoing military clashes in the Idlib area involving the Turkish government. Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stated, "We will strengthen efforts to prevent a terrible humanitarian crisis by all possible means."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.