Russian helicopters check frontlines north of Syria’s Hasakah

DERBASIYAH, Syria (North Press) – Two Russian helicopters hovered on Thursday over the town of Derbasiyah, north of Hasakah, northeast Syria, at a low altitude, for the third time in four days.

The two helicopters headed west towards contact lines between the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a military source told North Press.

The helicopters returned to their starting point at Qamishli International Airport after 20 minutes, according to the military source.

On Tuesday, two Russian warplanes flew in the same path, according to the North Press’ follow ups.

This step came in light of the Turkish military build-up on the contact lines on the Syrian-Turkish border, which coincides with intensifying Turkish threats to launch a military operation against Syria’s north.

On July 1, the Turkish president said that Ankara’s new military operation in northern Syria could begin at any moment.

In a speech after charring a government meeting on June 27, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed threats to launch a new military operation in northern Syria.

On June 1, Erdogan threatened to launch 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) from the Turkish-occupied Afrin.

Reporting by Salah Oskan