On the eve of the meeting with Erdogan and Putin ... the Syrian opposition launched an attack on the regime in Saraqib

Syrian opposition forces backed by Turkish artillery are launching an attack on the positions of the regime's army in Syria and its allies inside the city of Saraqib in Idlib countryside, amid international moves to discuss the region's developments on the eve of the meeting between Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

The opposition renewed its attacks on Saraqib in an attempt to recover it after it had lost it two days ago.

The region is witnessing clashes and mutual bombing between the two parties, as Russian aircraft launch raids on the areas around the city of Saraqib.

The Turkish Ministry of Defense confirmed that two of its soldiers were killed and six wounded in Idlib, northern Syria.

According to Al-Jazeera correspondent, the Syrian armed opposition controls the town of Sheikh Aqil and the hill in the western countryside of Aleppo.

On the other hand, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that the locations of the opposition fighters in Idlib Governorate merged with the Turkish observation sites, and that artillery attacks on nearby civilian areas and a Russian air base became daily.

These allegations made by Major General Igor Konashenkov are likely to increase tensions ahead of a meeting on Syria in Moscow on Thursday between the Russian president and his Turkish counterpart.

Relations between Moscow and Ankara have been strained over the past days after Turkish soldiers were killed in an air strike in Idlib.

Turkey responded by intensifying its attacks on Syrian government forces, while Russian military police helped secure a strategic town that government forces had recovered from opposition fighters.

Safe area
A spokeswoman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that Presidents Putin and Erdogan should define a safe area within Syria for refugees and relief organizations.

She explained that the chancellor urged the establishment of the region during phone calls with Erdogan and Putin.

Defense Minister Ingrett Kram Karinbauer also said on Wednesday that her country has close economic ties with Russia and can use that to pressure Putin about interfering in Syria.

The minister told private RTL / NTV television that her country has extensive trade ties with Moscow, and has already used sanctions in connection with the conflict in Ukraine.

She also said, "This is the question that must be asked now regarding Syria," noting that Germany should show Russia "that we are fully aware of what it is doing in Syria."

The minister reiterated her proposal to establish safe areas in northern Syria to protect civilians, adding that Merkel was trying to persuade Putin to support it.

Karenbauer added that Berlin and other European powers could be asked to protect these areas if all concerned in the region agreed.