Russian bombing of Turkish troops a 'total accident'

By Zehra Aydin

AFYONKARAHISAR, Turkey

Turkey is investigating the "unfortunate accident" that martyred three of its soldiers in a Russian airstrike, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said Friday.

The bombing of a building being used by Turkish troops involved in the assault on the Daesh-held town of Al-Bab in northern Syria left 11 other soldiers injured on Thursday.

"We are trying to fully clarify and investigate the incident," Kurtulmus said during a visit to the western Turkish province of Afyonkarahisar. "The initial information is that it’s an unfortunate accident due to incorrect coordination.

"According to initial information we received, it is a total accident but how it happened and how the coordination was miscalculated will be clarified. It seems that much closer coordination measures are needed in the fight there."

Turkey considers any members of its security forces killed in the line of duty -- whether in combat or due to an accident -- to be martyrs.

Following the bombing, Russian President Vladimir Putin telephoned President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to offer his condolences over the "tragic" incident.

Operation Euphrates Shield, which involves Free Syrian Army fighters backed by Turkish forces, was launched last August to secure Turkey’s border with Syria against terrorists and support opposition forces.

Since November, the operation has focused on taking Al-Bab, 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of the Turkish border.