In turn, rebel fighters reportedly recaptured the villages of San and Ma'arat Alia west of Saraqib. Syrian and Turkish clashes continued as Syrian warplanes targeted Turkish forces in Taftanaz Military Airbase northeast of Idlib city, with no reports of casualties. A Turkish Anka-S drone was also shot down in Dadekh, east of Idlib; SANA reported the aircraft infiltrated Syrian airspace and was intercepted. SNHR reported 25 civilians killed by government forces and its allies, and 185 civilians were reportedly injured as airstrikes targeted eight schools and two nurseries in rebel-held areas throughout Idlib Governorate while two MSF hospitals in Idlib city and Maarrat Misrin sustained damage. On 26 February, Syrian government forces were reported to have captured 33 towns and villages in Idlib and Hama in the previous 60 hours, while a SOHR report said that a Turkish military column on the Bara–Kansafra road was targeted by government rockets, leaving a vehicle destroyed. Two Turkish soldiers were killed, according to the Turkish foreign ministry. SNHR reported that government artillery struck a hospital in Idlib city, and that a total of 126 civilians had been killed by Russian and government forces in the 44 days since the end of the ceasefire on 12 January. While government forces made territorial gains in southern Idlib and northern Hama, opposition factions with support from Turkish elements had counterattacked on a separate front towards Saraqib and, on the dawn of 27 February, fully recaptured the strategic city and cut the Damascus-Aleppo M5 highway once again. The counterattack also lifted the encirclement of the four Turkish observation posts established around the city's perimeter. Frontlines continued to shift as the Syrian army's southern Idlib assault continued; pro-government forces captured 20 additional villages in the al-Ghab plain and Zawiya mountain region, establishing control over southern al-Ghab and regaining control of the entirety of Hama Governorate. In a major escalation, at around 5:00 p.m. local, pro-government airstrikes targeted a Turkish mechanized infantry battalion, composed of about 400 soldiers, near a post in Balyun in the Zawiya mountains, leaving at least 34 soldiers killed and others wounded, some seriously. Other Turkish and rebel sources indicated 55 to 70 Turkish soldiers killed, with some local reports as high as 100. Several military vehicles were also reported destroyed. While sources in Idlib and unverified footage of the strike suggested it had been conducted by the Russian air force, Russia denied responsibility and Turkey's leadership nevertheless held Syrian government forces responsible.