Turkey expands, reinforces posts on contact lines in Syria’s north
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Turkish forces that are deployed in Idlib, a governorate northwest Syria, sent military reinforcements to their posts near contact lines with Syrian government forces in Zawiya Mountain south of Idlib, and expanded other posts after days of establishing a new one.
These reinforcements come in tandem with military escalation and mutual shelling between parties to the conflict [Syrian government forces and Turkish-backed Syrian armed opposition factions, also known as Syrian National Army (SNA)] amid intermittent Russian airstrikes, targeting the region.
Although de-escalation zone in northwest Syria is subjected to a Russian-Turkish ceasefire agreement signed in March 2020, the area witnesses frequent mutual bombardment despite the entry of the ceasefire into force.
In March 2020, Russia and Turkey reached an agreement in Moscow that stipulated a ceasefire, the establishment of a safe corridor, and the conduct of joint patrols on the M4/Aleppo-Latakia Highway.
A military source of the Syrian opposition told North Press that Turkish forces sent military reinforcements to their military posts in the villages and the towns of Kansafra, Balyun and al-Bara that are adjacent to the government-held areas, south of Idlib, with dozens of military machines including tanks that carried dozens of Turkish soldiers.
The Turkish forces expanded their military bases situated on the strategic hill of Balyun, as they could monitor most of the villages and towns of Zawiya Mountain, in addition, they deployed several tanks and heavy artillery on the hill after they replaced berms with cement blocks, the source added.
Lately, the Turkish forces have established three new military bases near the village of San, east of Zawiya Mountain that is less than 3km from government-held area, according to the source.
The source pointed out that the aforementioned posts, that are established between the SNA-controlled village of San and the government forces-controlled town of Dadikh, have been established in high positions, as they can monitor Aleppo-Damascus Highway, also known as M5.
Turkish forces also deployed more than 400 soldiers, including groups of Turkish commandos, in addition to tanks, rocket launchers and heavy artillery in the area.
These ongoing daily reinforcements to areas in northern and northwestern Syria come in tandem with threats by Turkish officials to invade areas in Syria’s north.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recently announced plans to carry out another major military cross-border incursion into northern Syria. Erdogan specified his targets in the two northern Syrian cities of Manbij and Tel Rifaat.
On July 1, Erdogan said that Ankara’s new military operation in northern Syria could begin at any moment.
“The time has come to clear these lands from the terrorist organizations,” Erdogan threatened during Tehran Summit.
Tehran Summit, on July 19, brought together presidents of each of Iran, Russia and Turkey with the Syrian issue and Turkish threats on the top of its agenda.