Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Wednesday accused Russia of pursuing a campaign of “ethnic cleansing” in Syria and strengthening Islamic State jihadists, in the latest escalation of tensions between Ankara and Moscow.

“Russia is trying to make ethnic cleansing in the northern Latakia (region) to force (out) all Turkmen and Sunni populations who do not have good relations with the (Syrian) regime,” Davutoglu told foreign reporters in Istanbul, adding that Russia’s military strikes in Syria were “strengthening” IS jihadists by targeting moderate opposition forces.