Turkey shared coordinates of soldiers in al-Bab with Russia to "prevent accidents", military says
Turkish soldiers seen in Northern Syria's al-Bab town. (REUTERS PHOTO)


Coordinates of Turkish soldiers were previously shared with Russia to prevent accidents, a statement released by the Turkish Military said late Friday in response to Kremlin' claim that coordinates given to Turkish side led to the airstrike.

The statement said that Turkey shared the coordinates of its soldiers, who were located in the same building for 10 days, with Russia as a rocket was launched to a nearby area by Russian units on February 8.

Turkish military officials re-shared the same coordinates with Russian officials at the Khmeimim Air Base the same night of the accident at 11.11 p.m.

At the same time, Russia's Armed Forces attaché of Ankara was invited to the Presidency of General Staff and given the same information, the statement added.

Th statement said that the information is being made public in order to prevent the recent claim made by Kremlin to cause any misperception that Turkish side's actions played a role in the accident.

An agreement signed on January 12 between Turkey and Russia, which foresees exchange of information about operation developments between the two countries to prevent, has been in force for one month, the statement elaborated.

On Thursday, Russia confirmed that its fighter jets mistakenly targeted Turkish soldiers near Syria's al-Bab on Thursday, killing three soldiers and wounding 11 others, which was later confirmed by Turkish military sources in an official statement.

Three soldiers died at the scene, whereas 11 others were injured, including one in critical condition. The wounded soldiers were transferred to hospital after an initial medical intervention.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after the attack and offered his condolences.