TASS - The Turkish army has been targeting solely elements of the Bashar al-Assad's regime, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that neither Russia nor Iran are his country�s targets in Syria.

"Turkey does not take aim at either Russia or Iran in Syria. We are only destroying the elements of the [Assad] regime," he said on Monday. Erdogan�s remarks were broadcast by NTV television.

The Turkish leader noted though that he "expects [other countries] to show respect" for Ankara�s stance, adding that the participation in combat operations in Syria was the will of the people rather than the leadership�s personal choice.

"I appeal to Russia and Iran once again. Turkey has no problems with these countries in Syria. We do not set sights on Syria�s territory. Nor do we have plans to gain a foothold there," he added.

Referring to Ankara�s Operation Spring Shield in Syria�s Idlib, which began on February 27, Erdogan stated that the army of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would sustain heavy losses. "We launched the operation after 34 of our soldiers had been killed in Idlib. We will not leave any drop of our martyrs� blood shed there unanswered. We have already inflicted the greatest damage ever on the regime, and these casualties are just the beginning for it," he stated.

The situation in Syria�s Idlib deteriorated dramatically once again overnight into February 28. Ankara said that over 30 Turkish soldiers had been killed by Syrian government forces� strike. Shortly after that, Turkey carried out strikes on Syrian army positions, specifying that over 200 targets had been hit.

Turkey has conducted three military operations in Syria: Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch and Peace Spring. They resulted in creating a buffer security zone between the border towns of Azaz and Jarablus, establishing control over Afrin and the territories to the east of the Euphrates.