Russia resumes striking Turkmens for first time after warplane downing

Russia targeted the Turkmen region of Bayırbucak located in northern Syria near the Turkish-Syrian border Thursday, for the first time since Turkey downed a Russian jet after the plane violated its airspace on Nov. 24, according to reports in news sources.

Sources said eight different positions surrounding the Turkmen Mountain in Bayırbucak, including Karamanlı, Gebere and Kinsibbe villages, were hit in the airstrikes that kicked off in the morning and casualties are reportedly high. Ambulances have arrived at the target region.

Kurdish mountains neighboring the Bayırbucak region, where Kurdish-populated villages are located, have also been reportedly targeted by Russian aircraft.

Resisting with a limited number of men against heavy Russian bombards and ground operations of the regime forces, Turkmens still have control of the strategic Kızıldağ region after fierce clashes a week ago. Regime forces are reportedly preparing for an offensive against the Turkmens in their positions at Kızıldağ.

Kızıldağ is located 5 kilometers from the Turkish border and plays a crucial role in the fight. Syrian regime forces are reportedly cooperating in the operations in the region with the support of Iranian, Iraqi, Afghan and Lebanese fighter jets as well as the Russian air force.

Russia's activities in Syria were previously criticized by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, during his speech at Qatar University on Wednesday, saying Russia directly supports Assad's oppressive regime, which has killed over 340,000 civilians in the past five years.

President of Syrian National Coalition Khaled Khoja said Thursday that Russia has decided to meddle indirectly in the crisis in Syria after seeing the advancements in moderate opposition groups in the coastal areas of Syria, where strongholds of the regime exist. "Russia intervened just after realizing the great achievements of the opposition toward coastal areas," he said during a panel organized by the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) in Ankara. On Nov. 24, two Turkish F-16 fighter jets on an aerial patrol intercepted a Russian fighter jet within the rules of engagement when it violated Turkish airspace near the Syrian border. The Russian warplane received 10 warnings about its violation within five minutes before it was shot down.

This was not the first time Russian fighter jets had violated Turkish airspace. Turkish airspace was violated again by Russian fighter jets in October. Russian officials had apologized and pledged that such incidents would not reoccur in the future.

Syrian Turkmen villages in Syria turned into 'wrecks'

Syrian Turkmens who have fled their homes due to Russian and Syrian regime aerial bombardments have described their homes as "wrecks." Areas in Syria's Turkmen region of Bayrbucak have been the targets of airstrikes from the regime of Bashar Assad carried out with Russian support. Thousands of Turkmen, a Turkic ethnic group, have been displaced by the fighting around Bayırbucak. Around 2,000 have recently sought shelter in Turkey. Many Turkmens who left their villages are trying to live in and around the village of Yamadi near the Turkish border in makeshift tents. Speaking to Anadolu Agency, one Turkmen, Hani Hamis, said that their villages had been turned into ruins and that he barely escaped with his child and pregnant wife. Hamis said Russian jets bombed the Turkmen region on the pretext of a DAESH presence there. "All regions that they hit are places where civilians live. Our homes were turned into wrecks. Our children died," Hamis said.

"We are fighting for our lives with Turkey's support. May god bless the Turkish people," he said. Fatma Sara, another Turkmen, said that their journey to Turkey was very hard due to the Assad regime and Russian attacks. She said that the regime would bomb them again if they return to their villages. Muhammed Cafer, another fleeing Turkmen, also said that the regime killed civilians and bombed mosques, hospitals and schools. "We will continue to repair the schools for our children's future, just to spite them," he added. Turkey's official disaster relief agency, AFAD, has set up a coordination center in Yamadi to organize the distribution of humanitarian aid to affected Turkmen families. Over the last several days, approximately 2,000 Syrian Turkmen fleeing the violence in their home country have reportedly arrived in southern Turkey. Turkmens are a Turkic ethnic group based largely in Syria and Iraq, where they live alongside large Arab and Kurdish populations. The Turkmen community, which includes both Sunni and Shiite Muslims, share close cultural ties with the Turkish people.