The raging propaganda war and hostile relations between Russia and Turkey reached new levels today when state news agency Anadolu reported that Russia had bombed two hospitals and a school in Syria. Russia bluntly denied it, saying the allegations are unfounded, and pointing the finger at Turkey, which is bombing Kurdish fighters in northern Syria, reports RT.

Confirming the facts has become next-to-impossible, with no independent media able to access the country because of the dangers, but if the claims are coming from state-owned or influenced media, they must be viewed with skepticism.

Here’s what can be confirmed at a strategic level: Turkey has picked up its military action in Syria, coming head-to-head with Russia and the Syrian government forces, because it is at war with the Kurds who are fighting against ISIS terrorists.

When the US and Russia started working together with their military action in Syria, Turkey’s reaction was to take unilateral action and start bombing the Kurds in the north to prevent their number one enemy from carving out their own territorial gains. Syria, Russia, the US and the Kurds are all fighting ISIS. Turkey is fighting the Kurds and the Syrian government, and if Sunni nation Saudi Arabia sends in ground troops as it has talked about, this will reinforce Turkey’s position as a Sunni ally.

Turkey shot down a Russian plane near the Syrian border in November 2015, and ever since then, the two regional powers have been at loggerheads with each other.

In the latest developments, UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond criticised Russia, saying: “The reported airstrikes conducted on hospitals in northern Syria in recent days could amount to war crimes and must be investigated. I am appalled that the Asad regime and its Russian supporters are still bombing innocent civilians despite the agreement last Thursday to a cessation of hostilities and even as the UN Envoy for Syria is in Damascus trying to relieve the killing and suffering. Russia needs to explain itself, and show through its actions that it is committed to ending the conflict, rather than fuelling it.”

Old alliances versus regional enmities

Although Turkey, the US and the UK have been close allies since World War II, the escalating situation in Syria is threatening to drive a wedge between the NATO allies, deepening the power vacuum in Syria and threatening to extend the war both in terms of time and territory. As Russia and the US agree to cooperate in Syria following an initial disagreement, it is now Turkey that is acting unilaterally.

Erdogan’s unpredictable and threatening behaviour is now a real factor in the course of the Syria civil war and peace process. The ball is now in the US’ court.