Government sends reinforcements to NW Syria ahead of Astana talks
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – A military source from the Syrian government forces told North Press on Monday that “the 58th Battalion of the 105th Republican Guard Brigade headed from Damascus towards north of the M4 Highway in the de-escalation zone in northwestern Syria.
The government forces’ convoys headed to the contact lines with Turkish-backed opposition factions, also known as the Syrian National Army (SNA), who recently have been threatening to breach de-escalation agreements and escalate in parts of western Aleppo.
Social media accounts close to the Syrian government shared video footage of military convoys, which included tanks, armored vehicles, troop carriers, and engineering units, heading from the west of Damascus towards northwest Syria.
The reinforcements coincide with the preparations for the 20th round of Astana talks, which will be held on June 20-21 in the Kazakh capital. In recent days, Russia announced that its draft roadmap for developing relations between Syria and Turkey is ready.
Meanwhile, Turkish forces have intensified their shelling of northern Syria and government positions in northwestern Syria before the start of the Astana talks.