Roadside Bomb Explodes on Syria's M4 Highway in Idlib, Leaving Casualties

Earlier this year, Russia and Turkey agreed to carry out joint patrols on the M-4 highway in Idlib.

One Turkish soldier was killed when a roadside bomb exploded on Syria's M4 highway in Idlib as a Turkish convoy was passing by, Turkey's Defence Ministry said.

Earlier in the day, a Turkish news agency reported that some soldiers were in critical condition as a result of the explosion. 

The situation in Syria's Idlib deteriorated in late February when terrorists from the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham group* started a large-scale offensive on positions held by Syrian government forces. The Syrian army opened fire in response. According to the Russian Defence Ministry, this resulted in the deaths of Turkish troops who were not supposed to be stationed there.

On 5 March, Russian President Putin and Turkish President Erdogan held talks in Moscow and adopted a joint document which declared their adherence to the Astana format and announced a ceasefire. Moscow and Ankara agreed to carry out joint patrols on the M-4 highway.

*Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (a terrorist organisation banned in Russia)