According to several media outlets, on 1 March 2020, Turkey shot down 2 Syrian fighter jets over Idlib. Syrian state-run news agency SANA claimed that the pilots ejected safely and landed in the government-controlled area.
On the other side, Turkish Defense Ministry claimed that the downed fighter jets were Su-24 that attempted to attack Turkish aircraft. Designed to provide close air support and destroy ground targets, Su-24 is an attack warplane.
Meanwhile, Turkey has launched a full-scale military operation against Syrian forces in northern Syria. It is named as Operation Spring Shield.
Turkish defense ministry said in a statement that Turkish forces have destroyed 1 UAV, 8 helicopters, 103 tanks, 72 guns/howitzers/CNRA, 3 air defence systems and eliminated 2,212 regime soldiers till now.
“We have no intention to confront Russia but we want to stop the Assad regime’s massacre of civilians. Our target is only regime forces and elements attacking our troops,” said Turkish defense minister Hulusi Akar.
Besides, Turkish media reported that a Syrian regime aircraft was also shot down in Syria’s Idlib province on that day possibly by Syrian opposition fighters.