Turkish forces send military reinforcements to NW Syria
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – On Saturday, Turkish forces entered Syrian territory with a military convoy consisting of dozens of vehicles to support their posts in areas held by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front) in northwest Syria.
An administrator at Kafr Lossin crossing in northern Idlib Governorate, northwest Syria, informed North Press that a Turkish military convoy, including over 12 vehicles and military trucks, entered on Saturday through the Kafr Lossin crossing and headed towards Mount Simeon in the northwestern countryside of Aleppo, where Turkish forces are stationed.
According to the source, the Turkish convoy includes armored vehicles and two tanks mounted on trucks, in addition to three trucks carrying ammunition, logistical supplies, and prefabricated rooms. The convoy is under strict protection by General Security Service (GSS), affiliated with the HTS.
This marks the third military convoy of Turkish forces entering through the Kafr Lossin crossing in northern Idlib to reach their positions within the de-escalation zones in northwest Syria this month.
In mid-July, Turkish forces sent a military convoy carrying logistical and military equipment to the western countryside of Aleppo amidst ongoing military tensions within the de-escalation zone in northwest Syria.
The number of Turkish military bases and checkpoints deployed on the fronts of eastern and southern Idlib, extending to the countryside of Hama, central west Syria, exceeds 23 posts and bases along the strategic M4 and M5 Highway.
The boundaries of the fourth de-escalation zone were drawn during the sixth round of the Astana process in September 2017. It includes Idlib and parts of the countryside of Aleppo, Hama, and Latakia.
After about a year and due to the continued advancement of Damascus forces in stages within the fourth de-escalation zone, Ankara and Moscow reached the Sochi agreement, where Turkey was assigned to establish 12 observation points and create a buffer zone with a depth of 15 to 20 kilometers.
These Turkish reinforcements come amid escalating attacks by the Syrian government forces in the agreed-upon area, which is under the control of the HTS.