Turkish-backed groups escalate attacks on Syria’s Ain Issa
AIN ISSA, Syria (North Press) – The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said in a statement issued on Tuesday that Turkish-backed armed opposition groups have recently intensified their attacks on the outskirts of the town of Ain Issa, north of Syria’s Raqqa, with the aim of controlling the M4 highway.
The statement added that its forces responded to all opposition groups attacks, which were supported by Turkish drones, and thwarted them.
For more than two weeks, SDF has continued to confront the attempts of the Turkish forces and their affiliated armed groups to infiltrate the villages of Misherfah, Jahbal, Saida and Ma’alqa.
The SDF said that for the past two days, its fighters have responded to massive attacks launched by the opposition groups on the villages of Misherfah and Jahbal, northeast of Ain Issa.
It stated that five of its fighters lost their lives while responding to those attacks, and that Turkish forces bombed the city, which is populated by civilians, during their advances.
Tel Abyad Military Council Commander Riyad al-Khalaf denied any discussions with Russian forces regarding the surrender of the town of Ain Issa to Syrian government forces.
In a phone call with North Press, al-Khalaf said that what is rumored through some media is nothing but a media war that has no credibility on the ground.
“The indiscriminate shelling is still continuing, and there are bodies of civilians which are still under rubble as the groups do not allow us to remove them,” he added.