Syria regime helicopter downed as Ankara threatens DamascusSyrian rebel fighters gather around the burning remains of a downed military helicopterQAMINAS (SYRIA) - Tensions escalated Tuesday between Syria's regime and rebel-backer Turkey as a Syrian military helicopter was shot down and Ankara warned of a "heavy price" for any attacks on its forces. Shortly after the M5 motorway was recaptured, a rocket attack downed a Syrian regime helicopter in Idlib province, killing both pilots, an AFP correspondent and a war monitor said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the helicopter was hit by a rocket fired by Turkish forces, though Ankara did not claim responsibility. On Tuesday, Erdogan said Turkish troops would continue to respond to Syrian regime attacks. Earlier Tuesday, Syria regime forces retook full control of the key M5 highway from jihadists and allied rebels in the northwest for the first time since 2012, the Observatory said.

Source: Bangkok Post February 11, 2020 16:30 UTC