On 13 June 2019, during an ongoing offensive by the Syrian government against rebels in Idlib and Hama, pro-government forces reportedly targeted Turkish observation forces stationed in the area as part of demilitarization agreement between Russia, Turkey and Iran. The Turkish minister of defense stated that the attack on Turkish forces included 35 mortar shells, 3 Turkish soldiers were reportedly wounded as a result, soon after the Russian government claimed that a cease-fire had been established between Turkey, Russia, the rebels and the Syrian government, however the rebels and Turkish government denied a cease-fire had been implemented.[61] In response to the attacks Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu stated the attacks were intentional, the Turkish government also stated the Turkish military would respond to any attacks on their positions in Syria.[62] The Russian military denied the Syrian government was behind the attack but instead blamed the Syrian rebels calling them "terrorists", for attacking Turkish positions, the Russian government also claimed that the Turkish government had asked the Russian military for help in protecting Turkish forces in Idlib and that the Turkish government had given the coordinates of rebel positions to the Russian military.[63][64]