The airspace over northwestern Syria, particularly Idlib, is closed to any flight or drones and any aircraft violating the airspace will be dealt with as a hostile target and will be shot down, said the statement.

The new decision comes on the heels of the current tension with Turkey, which is backing the rebel groups in Idlib.

A day earlier, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said tens of Syrian soldiers had been killed within 24 hours in Idlib by Turkish drone attacks.