Russian aircraft not behind attack on Turkish soldiers in Syria: Turkish official

Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed to Turkey an attack on Turkish soldiers in northern Syria was not carried out by Russia's aircraft, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said on Monday.



"Russia, through Mr. Putin, confirmed that aircrafts involved in this attack near al-Bab city in northern Syria do not belong to Russia," Kurtulmus told a news conference after a cabinet meeting, referring to two phone conversations at the weekend between leaders of Turkey and Russia.



Kurtulmus said they have the records of flights by "aircraft or drone" that has conducted the attack on Turkish soldiers in Syria," local daily Hurriyet reported.



After the "confirmation" regarding those records, Ankara would take necessary steps, he said without elaborating in detail.



Turkish Armed Forces said the airstrike was thought to be carried out by Syrian regime forces on Nov. 24, which killed four Turkish soldiers.



The suspected attack by Syrian regime is the first such Turkish deaths since Turkey launched a cross-border military operation in August.



Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Putin had two phone talks on Friday and Sunday.

