Turkish artillery targets Syria’s Aleppo with 30 shells
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – On Thursday, Turkish forces shelled harvested farmlands which had been planted with wheat and barley in the northern countryside of Aleppo, also known as Shahba region, which shelters displaced people of the Kurdish-region of #Afrin, northern Syria.
Turkey has occupied the city of Afrin and its countryside since 2018 following a two-month battle with the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), displacing the original inhabitants of the Kurds to Shahba region.
The Turkish shelling of Shahba region comes in light of the continued threats to invade regions of 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 neighbor 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).
The Turkish artillery targeted the agricultural lands in the villages of Aqiba and Ibbin, north of Aleppo, with 30 shells.
A week ago, due to Turkish threats, the residents of Shahba region rushed to harvest their crops, fearing of losing it because of potential Turkish operation.
On June 21, the Turkish forces and Turkish-backed opposition factions, also known as Syria National Army (SNA), shelled the villages of Sheikh Issa, Harbel, Kafr Nasih and Bailouniyah in Shaba region, in addition to the outskirts of the town of Tel Rifaat.