Turkish artillery firing on pro-Assad positions in Idlib Province, northwest Syria, in footage released by the Turkish Defense Ministery, February 28, 2020 (AFP)

Amid the humanitarian crisis caused by a Russia-regime offensive, Turkey is promising air defense against the assault threatening 3 million people in Idlib Province in northwest Syria.

Ankara announced on Tuesday that it will deploy low and medium-altitude air defense systems on the battlefield. The systems include the new HISAR missiles designed to protect military bases, ports, facilities and troops against rockets, missiles, and drones.

Turkey intervened last month against the 10-month Russia-regime offensive, escalating its involvement after a Russian or regime strike killed 36 Turkish troops last Thursday. More than 200 pro-Assad positions were targeted, destroying scores of tanks, other armored vehicles, air defense systems, multiple rocket launchers, and heavy weapons.

Turkish support also enabled rebels to reclaim territory in southern Idlib Province, notably the key town of Saraqib on the Damascus-to-Aleppo M5 and cross-Idlib M5 highways.

However, ahead of a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Moscow pushed back on Monday, enabling a pro-Assad offensive that reoccupied Saraqib.

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Turkish forces shot down another Russian-made warplane on Tuesday, the third regime jet downed since Ankara’s escalation.

The Defense Ministry said a drone, six tanks, five howitzers, two air defense systems, three armored combat vehicles, five technicals, six military vehicles, and an ammunition dump were destroyed captured. It claimed 327 pro-Assad fighters were “neutralized”.

But the Turkish announcement of air defense did not prevent renewed Russan-regime attacks that killed at least 12 civilians on Tuesday. Targets included Idlib city center, the town of Binnish, and the region of Sahil Roj.