Syria has accused Turkey of providing supporting fire and logistical help to enable “terrorist groups” to capture the Syrian city of Idlib and the strategic town of Jisr al-Shughur, state television said Tuesday.
“The terrorist groups’ attacks on Idlib city and Jisr al-Shughur ... were carried out by logistical and fire support from the Turkish army,” Syrian television quoted the Foreign Ministry as saying.
“This is direct Turkish aggression on Syria.”
Syria has recently stepped up its accusations that Turkey is aiding opposition fighters in its civil war and allowing thousands of foreign jihadi fighters into the country.
Ankara has rejected such charges.
Last month’s capture of Idlib, near the Turkish border, and Jisr al-Shughur last week dealt a blow to government forces who have suffered a series of setbacks in both the north and south of the country.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the Nusra Front and allied groups who captured Jisr al-Shughur have captured 100 soldiers and pro-regime militants and their families since Saturday.
Elsewhere, two mortar rounds fired from Syria struck open areas of the Israeli-occupied sector of the Golan Heights Tuesday, an Israeli security source said.
“Two mortar shells fell in the northern sector of the Golan Heights,” the source told AFP, saying it was a result of stray fire from fighting inside Syria and had caused no casualties or damage.
The Israeli army said that “multiple explosions” were heard in the Golan Heights and that sirens had sounded in several areas.
The mortar fire came two days after the Israeli military said that the air force had targeted four “terrorists” armed with explosives who were “en route to carry out an imminent attack” on troops on the armistice line.
All four were killed.
