UPDATE - Russia hits targets in Idlib by Turkey's request

CHANGES HEADLINE, LEDE, UPDATES WITH RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY QUOTES

ANKARA/MOSCOW (AA) - Russian jets hit four targets flagged by Turkish forces in the Syrian province of Idlib, the country's Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

Earlier on Thursday, Turkey’s Ministry of Defense said an observation point in the de-escalation zone was attacked.

Russia's Defense Ministry said groups allied to the Al-Nusra Front -- classified by Turkey as a terrorist organization since 2014 -- were responsible for the attacks.

"Because of the threat to the lives of its personnel, the Turkish command contacted the Russian Center for reconciliation of the warring parties with a request for assistance in ensuring the security of its troops and hitting the positions of terrorists," it said, adding that "close cooperation" would continue between the two countries.

Three Turkish soldiers were injured slightly in the attack, the statement said. Some of the facilities, equipment and materials were also partially damaged.

The attack came even after Turkey and Russia had agreed to turn Idlib into a zone of de-escalation in last September, thereby vowing to stop acts of aggression against each other.

“Some 35 mortars were fired from As Shariah region, controlled by the Syrian forces in the Idlib de-escalation zone. They targeted our observation point number 10, located on mount Zawiya,” the Turkish Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

The statement further said that the Turkish government has taken necessary initiatives with Russia regarding the attack.

Even as Turkey and Russia had agreed to stop acts of aggression and convert Idlib into a de-escalation zone, the Syrian regime has consistently violated the terms of ceasefire. It has launched frequent attacks inside the de-escalation zone.

Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in early 2011, when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected severity.