Syrian Government Forces Target Turkish Observation Post for the Second Time

The Syrian Government forces targeted today a Turkish observation post for the second time in a row in Hama, amid Syrian Air Forces air strikes on the de-escalation zones.

The areas of Kafr Zita, Al Arbaeen, Zaka were subjected to aerial bombardment, amid a ground attack on the Turkish observation post in Morek, followed by shelling by the Turkish military on the positions controlled by the Syrian government forces.

Turkish Ministry of National Defence confirmed in a statement, that a Turkish post came under attack for the second time, after about 72 hours of the first attack launched by the Syrian government on the point of Sher Maghar in Shashabo Mountain.

On Sunday, the Turkish Ministry of Defence confirmed that their forces have targeted back the positions of the Syrian forces in Hama countryside, while it denied any occurred casualties.

Ankara also accused the Syrian government forces of “The deliberate attacks on the Turkish observation posts” while some equipment and facilities in the post were damaged, noting that they are communicating with the Russian side to “make the necessary initiatives” while maintaining the situation in the region under observation and control.

Moreover, the Syrian government forces targeted on Sunday morning areas in the village of Qammari and its environs in southern Aleppo, and areas in Khan Shaykhun, Fatterah, Habeet, and Ma’aret Hurmah in southern Idlib, without any information on casualties.

While, the armed opposition groups targeted Qasabiyeh village in northwestern Hama, causing casualties and damage to pieces of machinery of Syrian government forces.

Later after midnight, the government forces targeted areas in Habeet, Sufuhon, and Ma’aret Hurmah in the southern countryside of Idlib, at least 13 people, including 4 children and 3 women, were killed in the shelling of Al-Bara, Ma’arat al-Numan, Kafr Mous, Fatterah and Deir Sunbul during the last 24 hours, and others were injured in varying degrees of severity, according to North-Press reporter.

The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during the last 48 hours that “It’s not possible for us to remain silent if the (Syrian) regime continues its attacks on observation points in Idlib”, referring to the targeting of the Turkish observation posts in Sher Maghar which caused the wounding of three Turkish soldiers and damage to equipment and facilities.

While on Friday, the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated that, “The regime would attack Idlib using the excuse of the radical groups’ presence after sending them there.”

Cavusoglu stated that “Russia has to fulfill its commitments in stabilizing the ceasefire in the region,” stressing on what he described as the harassment of the Syrian Government Forces with a Turkish observation post, and wounding three Turkish soldiers.”