Russian-backed Syrian government forces target Turkish convoy in Syria

IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Military sources told North Press that on Sunday, the 25th Special Mission Forces Division of the Syrian army targeted a convoy of vehicles heading to evacuate a Turkish observation post in the Hama countryside.

The source added that the attack led to the death of one driver and the injury of another, and that government forces are still refusing to hand over the body of the driver to either the Turkish military or the driver’s family.

The Turkish-backed Sham Legion armed opposition group had rented approximately 50 trucks to evacuate the Turkish observation post in Morek, and gathered on Saturday evening on the outskirts of the town of Sarmin, east of Idlib, according to the source.

The leadership of the 25th Special Mission Forces Division, also known as the “Tiger Forces,” is supported by Russia, and is considered the spearhead division in battles fought with Russian air support in northwest Syria.

The government forces’ takeover of the northern countryside of Hama and southern countryside of Idlib led the siege of 12 Turkish observation points established at the beginning of 2018 under the Astana agreement.

The military source expects that the withdrawal of Turkish forces from the observation point in Morek is a sign of the beginning of the evacuation of other points currently under siege by government forces.

Reporting by Zaid al-Shami