Turkey sends military reinforcement to Syria’s Afrin
AFRIN, Syria (North Press) – Turkish forces sent on Sunday troops and military reinforcement to Deir Ballout area, in the countryside of Afrin, northwest Syria.
An exclusive source told North Press that the Turkish forces sent military reinforcement, including troops and military and armored vehicles to Deir Ballout that separates areas held by Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka Syrian National Army (SNA), and those held by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front).
The reinforcement entered through al-Rai border crossing, north of Aleppo, towards the city of al-Bab, east of Aleppo, the source added.
The Turkish troops were deployed on routes in Deir Ballout for unknown reasons, amid preventing civilians’ cars from moving, according to the source.
This coincided with fears of the Turkish forces that the HTS may enter the area, according to the source.
The Kurdish-majority region of Afrin has been under the occupation of Turkey and the SNA since 2018 following a military operation dubbed “Olive Branch” against the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) under the pretext of preserving Turkey’s national security.