Turkish forces set up new military point in Syria’s Idlib
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – On Sunday, Turkish forces started to establish a new military point in Zawiya Mountain area, south of Idlib, within the de-escalation zone in northwest Syria.
During the past hours, the Turkish forces started to establish a new military point near the town of Benin, southeast of Idlib, military sources of the Turkish-backed Syrian armed opposition factions told North Press.
Bulldozers of the Turkish forces built berms and a concrete wall around the new military point, after surveying the area by an exploratory force, the sources added.
The sources indicated that the new point is the closest to the contact lines between the armed factions and the Syrian government forces in the area, as part of strengthening its forces in the Zawiya Mountain area.
For months, the areas of northwestern Syria have witnessed exchange bombardment between the Syrian government forces and the opposition factions in various areas, amid reports of military buildups of government forces in the region.
Since the beginning of this year, the Turkish forces have continued to send more military reinforcements to Idlib, coinciding with the military escalation between the government forces and the opposition factions.
According to some press reports, there are about 13,000 Turkish soldiers, as well as 9,000 Turkish military vehicles in northwest Syria, stationed at more than 70 military points.
Last week, the Turkish forces brought in two military convoys that included more than 20 various vehicles, entering from the Kafr Lossin border crossing with Turkey, north of Idlib, towards Syrian territory.
This escalation comes after Putin-Erdogan meeting last week in Sochi, during which they discussed several files, most notably the Idlib issue.
The talks between the two presidents took place in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi in a closed-door meeting that lasted for about three hours, and neither president made detailed statements to the media after the talks.
The residents region fears the continued bombing operations, which may be followed by military movements on ground in an attempt to progress again in the region, which could lead to new displacements, in light of the news about the military build-up of the Syrian government forces in the surrounding areas.