SNA increases combat readiness under Turkish orders to invade NE Syria
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – Turkish command intends to launch a ground military operation against areas in northeast Syria, a military source from the Turkish-backed armed Syrian opposition factions revealed on Tuesday.
The source of the opposition, also known as Syrian National Army (SNA), stressed the opposition received Turkish instructions to increase combat readiness in preparation for the operation likely to start soon.
The past two days witnessed intensive Turkish areal and ground escalation against the areas in northern Syria, killing 13 civilians and a fighter of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The Turkish airstrikes claimed the lives of no less than 15 soldiers of the Syrian government forces and wounded others.
The source, a leader of Sultan Suleiman Shah (Amshat) faction, a formation of the Turkish-backed SNA, told North Press that the Third Legion of the SNA received on Monday instructions by the Turkey to increase combat readiness to the maximum level without identifying where and when to start the operation.
The Turkish instructions coincided with the entry of three units of Turkish Special Forces to the city of Azaz north of Aleppo, coming from Turkey through Bab al-Salameh border crossing.
Turkey sent military reinforcements, including tanks, heavy artillery and vehicles in addition to 75 troops to its bases deploy in south and southwest of Azaz, the areas off the town of Tel Rifaat in the northern countryside of Aleppo.
The source added Turkey “will not retrieve from launching the military operation, but it will be limited meant to save face in front of the Turkish people and international community.”
It suggested that the first sites to be targeted are Tel Rifaat and the surrounding areas, the western and northern countryside of the city of Manbij, but not the center of the cities of Kobani and Manbij due to their importance for the US.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed on Monday that there are talks with parties to the conflict in Syria to carry out a ground military operation on northern Syria and northern Iraq.
On November 20, the cities of Kobani, Derik (al-Malikiyah), and the northern countryside of Aleppo, in addition to other areas on Syrian-Turkish border were targeted by Turkish warplanes.
Turkish forces and the SNA factions continue immensely targeting areas in north and northeast Syria with artillery shells, drones and airstrikes.