Turkey’s new reinforcements, fortifications hint new agenda in Syria
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – In light of the military escalation taking place in various areas in Syria, Turkey continues to fortify and strengthen its positions and military posts in areas held by Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) in Idlib and the western countryside of Aleppo, which raises a question about Turkey’s aim of all these moves.
These ongoing daily reinforcements to areas in northern and northwestern Syria come in tandem with Turkish threats to invade areas in Syria’s north.
Turkey’s efforts to strengthen its presence in Syria through its different military operations are no longer hidden from anyone.
As Turkey began publicly on August 24, 2016 through Euphrates Shield military operation during which Turkey occupied areas in the northern and eastern countryside of Aleppo.
Since its military intervention, Turkey has established more than 70 military posts in the areas of Idlib, Aleppo, Hama and Latakia northwest of the country.
Turkish forces with the Syrian National Army (SNA) have launched four major military operations in northern Syria since the start of the Syrian conflict, taking control of areas along the border in what it says is a bid to “protect its national security” and its frontier.
Recently Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has 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.
Messages to Syrian government and Russia
A military source within the ranks of al-Fateh al-Mubin Operations Room told North Press that Turkey, through its current military reinforcements and mobilization in the area, is aiming at sending a message to the Syrian government and Russia.
“The message is that if the government forces intend to start a new military operation targeting the region, Turkey will participate in repelling those forces,” the source noted.
The source pointed out that the order to start a military operation by the factions of al-Fateh al-Mubin Operations Room is excluded for the time being, at least.”
The source justified this by the current international situation, and the lack of negotiations between Russia and Turkey on the military operation against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria.
The military source suggested that if Turkey wants to pressure Russia, it will start a battle in areas west of Aleppo, which is also witnessing a military escalation.
Turkish military operations in northwestern Syria ceased almost completely in February 2020, after military operations carried out by government forces and Russia against the opposition-held areas in the countryside of Idlib, Hama and Aleppo which lasted for more than eight months, according to press reports.
Expanding and strengthening posts
Turkish forces that are deployed in Idlib 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.
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, Balyon and al-Bara adjacent to the government-held areas, south of Idlib, with dozens of military machines including tanks which carried dozens of Turkish soldiers.
The Turkish forces expanded their military bases situated on the strategic hill of Balyon, 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 3 km from the government-held area.
The source pointed out that the aforementioned posts, which 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.
The 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.
On July 18, Turkish forces sent new military reinforcement to its military posts deployed in Idlib northwestern Syria.
Eyewitnesses told North Press that a Turkish military convoy, including more than 40 military heavy vehicles, entered from Bab al-Hawa crossing, which is on Syrian-Turkish borders, and headed towards Turkish posts deployed in the southern countryside of Idlib.
The convoy included tanks, heavy artillery, armored vehicles, and trucks carrying ammunition and logistic material, in addition to dozens of soldiers, according to the source.
These reinforcements come in tandem with military escalation and mutual shelling between parties to the conflict [Syrian government forces and Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, also known as Syrian National Army (SNA)] amid intermittent Russian airstrikes, targeting the region.
Although the 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.