Turkish forces pound north of Syria’s Hasakah
TEL TAMR, Syria (North Press) – Turkish forces and the Turkish-backed armed Syrian opposition factions targeted on Tuesday a village in the countryside of the town of Tel Tamr in north of Hasakah after relative calm frontlines witnessed for two days.
A source in Tel Tamr Military Council told North Press that the Turkish forces and their affiliated factions, also known as Syrian National Forces (SNA), targeted the village of Tawila in west of Tel Tamr with scours of artillery shells and mortars.
As a result, material losses were reported.
The countryside of Tel Tamr is subjected to a Russian-Turkish ceasefire agreement which has been in force since 2019.
Following the Turkish incursion in October 2019 of Sere Kaniyev (Ras al-Ain) and Tel Abyad, Turkey signed two ceasefire agreements, one with Russia and the other with the US stipulating ceasing all hostilities and the withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) 32 km away from the Turkish border.
The SDF did withdrew from the border areas according to the agreement, but Turkey continues targeting the area.
On Wednesday, a Russian delegation is on a visit to Turkey to discuss several issues including developments in Syria following a series of threats by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to launch a potential military operation on northern Syria.
On May 23, Erdogan announced taking steps to complete the so-called remained portions of the “safe zone” plan along Turkey’s southern border saying, “We will soon take new steps regarding the incomplete portions of the project we started on the 30 km deep safe zone we established along our southern border.”
The Turkish “safe zone” is an area of 30-35 km (19-22 miles) deep into Syrian territory that Turkey started establishing in 2019 to house Syrian refugees in an area along its border with Syria, as well as to keep it free from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which it regards as terrorists.
On May 25, Turkey’s National Security Council said that Turkey’s “existing and future military operations along its southern borders were necessary for the country’s security.” In the meeting, Erdogan delivered a speech to the MPs of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and said, “Turkish military would continue to rid its neighbour of terrorists” refers to the SDF.
On June 1, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed his threats of launching a military operation on northern Syria, and specified his targets in the two Syrian cities of Manbij and Tel Rifaat, which include many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).