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| - Tensions have soared between Syria and Turkey since early February, culminating in a deadly exchange of strikes in Syria's last rebel-held province of Idlib on the Turkish border. A snapshot: On February 3, tit-for-tat shelling between Turkish and Russian-backed Syrian forces is the deadliest since Turkey deployed troops to Syria in 2016. A Syrian strike kills five soldiers and three Turkish civilians. Retaliatory rocket attacks kill at least 13 government troops. The regime shelling comes after a Turkish military convoy of at least 240 vehicles enters the northwest of the country, says the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor. The troops were sent to reinforce 12 Turkish observation posts in the region. The clashes come after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses Syria's main foreign ally, Moscow, of "not honouring" agreements to prevent a regime offensive on Idlib. The next day, Erdogan tells Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ankara would respond "firmly" to any new Syrian attack. On February 5, Erdogan gives Syria an ultimatum to pull its forces back from Turkey's observation posts by the end of the month. Two days later, Turkish media report that Turkey has sent reinforcements to the observation posts. On February 10, five Turkish soldiers are killed by regime fire on its positions in Idlib. Ankara says it has "neutralised" 101 Syrian soldiers in response. Erdogan threatens on February 12 to strike Syrian regime forces "everywhere" if his soldiers are harmed. He accuses Russia of being complicit in "massacres" perpetrated by the Syrian government. The Kremlin accuses the Turks of failing to "neutralise terrorists" in Idlib. The next day, US special envoy for Syria James Jeffrey voices Washington's support for Ankara "defending its existential interests against refugee flow and dealing with terror". On February 14, a Syrian military helicopter is shot down over northwestern Syria and its crew killed. The Turkey-backed National Liberation Front rebel group claims responsibility. Days earlier, another Syrian military helicopter had been downed over Idlib province. Turkish media blamed that attack on rebels, but the Observatory said Ankara's own troops were responsible. Erdogan on February 26 vows Turkey will not take even the "smallest step back" in its stand off with Damascus and Moscow. On February 27, at least 33 Turkish soldiers are killed after an air strike blamed on Damascus. It brings the number of Ankara's troops killed in Idlib in February to 53. The Observatory says Turkish reprisals the next day kill 31 Syrian soldiers. In telephone talks on February 28, Putin and Erdogan express "serious concern" about the situation. NATO offers solidarity with Turkey, a member of the alliance, but no pledges of concrete measures to defend its forces. A Turkish official says Ankara will no longer close its border to refugees who want to go to Europe. acm-jmy/br/lg/dwo
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