Militants entered from Turkey, tried to enter Syria's Tel Rifaat: RIA Novosti
As the war of words between Russia and Turkey continues to rage with both countries accusing the other of supporting various groups in Syria, RIA Novosti is citing a "militia source" as saying that 300 fighters and trucks with ammunition entered Syria from Turkey and tried to enter the town of Tel Rifaat in northern Aleppo province.
RIA did not specify to which militia its source belonged -- a pro-government Syrian militia or the Kurdish YPG militia.
"Reinforcements were sent from Turkey to Tel Rifaat. Some 300 militants and ammo. Air strikes were carried out on columns traveling from Turkey on a segment of highway from Azaz to Tel Rifaat. Most of the reinforcements were destroyed. Some might reach the town," the source was quoted as saying.
Moscow and Damascus have accused Turkey of sending militants, weapons and ammunition into Syria to aid rebels, which Turkey has denied.
Ask Turkey about its plans for Syria: Kremlin spokesman
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov advised reporters to ask the Turkish Foreign Ministry about Ankara's plans for Syria, RIA Novosti reports.
Peskov made his comments in response to a request for comments on Moscow's response to reports that Turkish soldiers entered Syria.
"You should ask the Turkish Foreign Ministry and the Turkish Defense Ministry," Peskov said.
Druze in Israeli-occupied Golan Heights rally in support of Syria's Assad
Druze in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights town of Buq'ata have rallied in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Most Druze in Buq'ata, like in the rest of the parts of the Golan Heights occupied by Israel, have retained their Syrian citizenship.
MSF: Idlib hospital attack 'appears deliberate'
Medicins Sans Frontieres say that this morning's missile strike on a medical facility in Syria's Idlib province appeared to have been deliberate.
It is unclear if Russian or Syrian government planes were responsible for the attack.
Destruction of Syria hospital leaves 40,000 without medical services: MSF
MSF in Syria has said that the destruction in a missile attack this morning of an MSF-supported hospital in Idlib province leaves around 40,000 people without access to medical services in an active war zone.
The hospital was hit by two missiles within a short space of time, MSF say.
Claimed footage of missile strike on MSF hospital in Syria's Idlib
A pro-opposition news agency has released this claimed footage of the aftermath of a missile strike on a Medicins Sans Frontieres supported hospital in Marat al-Numan in Idlib province this morning.
The SMART news agency has blamed Russia for the attack but the perpetrator is not yet confirmed.
MSF say that eight of their staff are missing after four rockets hit the medical facility earlier today.
Turkish FM says Turkish post on Syria border attacked
Turkey's actions in Syria 'undisguised support for terrorism': Russia
The war of words between Russia and Turkey over Syria continues this morning with a statement by Russia's Foreign Ministry on Turkey's shelling of Kurdish YPG militias in northern Syria, which Moscow describes as a sign of "undisguised support for terrorism."
A partial translation of the ministry's statement:
Beginning on Feb. 13, Turkish artillery concentrated in the border areas carried out massive strikes on Syrian residential areas that were recently liberated from terrorists by government forces and Kurdish militias. The shelling, inter alia, targeted the Mennagh airbase [the ministry goes on to list several villages in Aleppo province] and also Syrian army positions in Latakia province. There are many deaths and injuries among civilians, and destruction of infrastructure and civilian homes.
At the same time, according to information received, Turkey continues to facilitate illegal entry into Syria of fresh groups of jihadists and mercenaries with weapons as replenishment for the fighting squads of the Al-Nusra Front, IS and other terrorist organizations. Wounded fighters are transported into Turkey as well as various gangs for relaxation and later reformation.
[...]
Moscow would like to express the gravest concern for the aggressive actions of the Turkish authorities in relation to a neighboring state. We see this as blatant support for international terrorism and the violation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the commitments undertaken by Turkey as a state party to the International Syrian Support Group in Vienna, New York and Munich....
At least 14 dead in strike on hospital, school in Azaz
More from Reuters on the news that missiles have hit a hospital and a school sheltering Syrian refugees in the Syrian border town of Azaz. At least 14 people have been killed in the attack.
Davutoglu: Turkey won't allow YPG to take Syrian border town of Azaz
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said that Turkey will not allow the Kurdish YPG militia to take the Syrian border town of Azaz and make advances west of the Euphrates river.
Turkey began shelling the YPG on Feb. 13 and says the Kurdish group is linked to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). But Washington does not share Turkey's view of the YPG as a terror group, instead seeing it as an important partner for the U.S.-led coalition against the IS group in Syria.
France has called on Turkey to stop its assault on the YPG in northern Syria.