Russia, Turkey still defending own interests in Syria
Fighting goes on in Idlib and Hama provinces between opposition forces and the Syrian regime, and recently Turkey and Russia seem more involved in the confrontations.
ALEPPO, Syria — Battles between Syrian regime forces and the armed opposition in Idlib and northern Hama provinces continue, with heavy regime shelling of opposition-held cities and towns. Russian and regime airstrikes are bombarding opposition and Turkish surveillance posts, killing civilians and paramedics on a daily basis.
But opposition forces seem to be giving as good as they get, or better.
Russia and Turkey have collaborated on peace negotiations in the 8-year-old Syrian civil war, but Moscow backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Ankara has supported the Free Syrian Army opposition group, as Turkey seeks to contain potential expansion by Kurds on its border with Syria.
The Turkish army has increased the number of surveillance posts in Idlib province and surrounding areas, and on June 25 dispatched reinforcements to the Turkish side of the border area there. Regime forces have targeted Turkish posts more than once. On June 27, the regime shelled the 10th Turkish surveillance post in northwestern Hama, and Turkey reported an attack on an Idlib post June 29.
