Government forces set up earthen berms north of Syria’s Aleppo
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – Syrian government forces began on Thursday constructing earthen berms in villages east of the town of Tel Rifaat in Aleppo northern countryside, in preparation for a potential Turkish invasion.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recently announced plans to carry out another major military cross-border operation into northern Syria, specifying his targets in the Syrian cities of Manbij and Tel Rifaat.
Since the beginning of the Turkish threats, the government forces began to fortify their positions, setting up earthen berms in several villages in the area.
Earlier, the government forces sat up berms on the outskirts of the villages of Kafr Naya, Deir Jamal, Miskan and Ibbin, which are subjected to almost daily artillery shelling by the Turkish forces and their affiliated Syrian opposition factions, also known as the Syrian National Army (SNA).
On Thursday, bulldozers began constructing earthen berms in the villages of Tal Qarah and Kafr Nasih, and on the side of the eastern route linking Kafr Nasih and Tel Rifaat.
At the end of May, the government forces have sent military reinforcements, including tanks, armored vehicles, multiple rocket launchers, ammunition and soldiers to the Menagh Military Airbase, adjacent to the town of Tel Rifaat.
On Wednesday, a military source said that the government forces are ready to fend off any potential aggression by the Turkish forces and affiliated SNA factions, according to the state-run SANA news agency.
Over the past few days, Turkey intensified its attacks on the northern countryside of Aleppo, targeting Tel Rifaat and the posts of the government forces, which resulted in civilian and military casualties, according to what North Press monitored.