Turkey said on Monday it had "neutralised" 101 Syrian regime soldiers following a bombardment which killed five Turkish soldiers in northwestern Syria's Idlib region, the last major rebel bastion. The Turkish defence ministry said its troops were pushing on with bombardments on Syrian positions in the area on Monday evening.

It was not immediately possible to verify the Turkish claim. Under a deal with Russia, Turkey has 12 observation posts in Idlib as a way to avert an offensive by Syrian government forces trying to retake it from rebels, but Syrian troops have been advancing despite Ankara's warnings.

"According to our sources, 101 regime troops were neutralised, three tanks and two cannons were destroyed and a helicopter was hit," the Turkish ministry statement said.

Earlier Monday, five Turkish soldiers died in Syrian regime artillery fire in Idlib.