Russia has said it is working to prevent a conflict between advancing Turkish and Syrian government forces, as Turkey’s president defied growing pressure from Western allies for a ceasefire in northern Syria.

A Syrian passenger plane intercepted by Turkey’s air force was carrying military communications equipment, Turkish media has reported as Damascus branded the incident piracy amid growing tensions between the two countries.

Turkish police launched a nationwide crackdown on suspected militants linked to the al-Qaida terror network, rounding up 120 people in simultaneous pre-dawn raids.