Turkish forces struck a military airport and shot down two Syrian military aircraft on Sunday in apparent retaliation for a strike days ago that killed Turkish troops.

Reuters reported that the military base struck by Turkish forces was far beyond their previous lines of engagement, indicating a possible escalation of the conflict between Turkey and Syria.

It was unclear how many, if any, casualties were caused by the strikes which came days after 33 Turkish troops were killed in airstrikes apparently ordered by the Syrian government.

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Turkey's defense minister cautioned after the attack that the country had no desire for war with Syria's main ally, Russia, in the country's bid to resettle more than 1 million Syrian refugees inside northeastern Syria.

“We have neither the intention nor the notion to face Russia. Our only intention there is for the [Syrian] regime to end the massacre and thereby prevent ... radicalization and migration,” Hulusi Akar said, according to Reuters.

Turkish forces are currently occupying an area of northeastern Syria in an attempt to begin their resettlement efforts, while Kurdish and other Syrian rebel groups in the area have called on the Syrian government to repel the Turkish troops.