Turkish UAVs played substantial role against Syrian army in Idlib province

摘要

The Turkish military made extensive use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during the eight days of intense fighting in Syria's Idlib province that came to an end with a ceasefire at midnight on 5-6 March. However, the loss of at least four aircraft raised questions about their ability to counter Syria's ground-based air defences. UAV operations surged over Syria after 34 Turkish soldiers were killed in an airstrike in southern Idlib on 27 February. The Turkish Ministry of National Defence (MSB) subsequently claimed to have inflicted hundreds of Syrian casualties and destroyed dozens of tanks, armoured vehicles, and artillery pieces.