Turkey reinforces Syria’s Idlib front amid tensions with Damascus
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – On Saturday, the Turkish forces deployed new military reinforcements to their bases in Idlib, northwestern Syria, amid escalating military tensions between Turkey and its affiliated factions on one hand and the Syrian government forces of the other.
Turkish forces are stationed in more than 60 military posts and bases in the Idlib region, and the neighboring areas in Latakia, Aleppo, and Hama. This deployment came after the signing of a deal between Turkey and Russia in 2018 by which both agreed on a demilitarization protocol for Idlib.
A military source from the Turkish-backed National Front for Liberation told North Press that the Turkish forces deployed a new military convoy in Idlib consisting of 15 military and logistics vehicles. He added that it entered the region through the Kafr Lossin border crossing in northern Idlib at 10 pm.
The source reported that the convoy included armored vehicles, rocket launchers, and field artillery, as well as trucks carrying ammunition and logistical supplies heading towards Turkish posts near the town of Afes in eastern Idlib.
On Saturday, Turkish forces targeted positions of the Syrian government forces stationed in Saraqib, east of Idlib, with rockets and artillery. This coincided with airstrikes by Syrian government forces on the outskirts of Idlib city and its countryside.
The source added that Turkish forces escalated shelling against posts of government forces in the countryside of Idlib and Aleppo in the past few days. They also put their artillery and rocket launchers at alert at their military posts that are located in eastern Idlib and western Aleppo.