Eurasia Press & News
Russian media report that Turkish artillery and pro-Turkish military units have launched an artillery attack in Al-Hasakah province.
According to local sources, the artillery strikes were aimed at residential buildings in the vicinity of the city of Abu Rasin. The attacks by Turkish and pro-Turkish troops were carried out on September 24th, according to Russian media.
What is reported by local sources has caused damage to residential buildings, property damage, but so far there is no information about casualties after the civilian population or among the Syrian troops.
Many experts and analysts point out that this is not an isolated incident. According to them, in recent weeks, the Turkish military and their pro-Turkish partners in the region have carried out similar attacks on residential buildings in various areas, but mostly concentrated in Hasaka province. Experts say this is an attempt by the pro-Turkish troops to expel the local population, entire families and genealogies so that they [the pro-Turkish soldiers and their families – ed.] Can take their places.
Turkish artillery fired on a Syrian army position, the Russian response is expected
Our sources in Syria, as well as a number of Russian media, claim that on September 21, the Turkish artillery units fired on the main defense point of the Syrian army in the city of Sarakib.
According to sources, mortar artillery shells were fired at the Syrian military post by both the Turkish military and their allies in the civil war against Bashar al-Assad.
Despite these allegations, other sources do not confirm this information, and that there was no response from the Russian aviation. Only Russian fighters were heard in the sky, but no air strikes were made.
We know from experience that if there has been an attack on the Syrian army, no matter where in the country, the Russian fighters from the Khmeimim military base rise 24 hours after the attack and strike serious and large-scale air strikes. Ie if the information is correct, the Russian Air Force is expected to make its air response today.
Similarly, if this Russian response is lacking, then we can assume that the second sources were correct and that there was no artillery attack by the Turkish side.
In general, Sarakib is the main stronghold of the Syrian army in Idlib. It is located at the crossroads of two main highways connecting Damascus with Aleppo.
Turkey prepares offensive in Syria, sends thousands of troops and equipment
Turkey is preparing a large-scale offensive in Syria in the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo, as we reported on September 7.
According to the sources, for this purpose, about 4 thousand servicemen and about 300 armored vehicles, as well as air defense systems, were transferred to the SAR. In addition, Turkey has increased the number of its observation posts in the SAR.
According to the latest data, 27 of them have already been equipped, of which 11 are located south of the border of the “security corridor”.
An increase in its military presence in Syria gives Turkey the opportunity for a large-scale offensive, which will violate the agreements reached in March to de-escalate the conflict.
Note, earlier the media reported that Russia has sent the latest Hermes missile systems to Syria. One complex can simultaneously destroy up to 10 units of enemy armored vehicles at a distance of up to 100 km.
War in Syria
In February, Turkey lost at least 62 troops killed in Syria, nearly 100 soldiers were wounded, dozens of Turkish armored vehicles were destroyed and more than ten drones, including drone, were shot down. Washington has repeatedly accused Moscow of involvement in the deaths of Turkish soldiers, Russia rejects these allegations.
In early March, the presidents of Russia and Turkey, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, concluded an agreement according to which a ceasefire came into force in the Idlib de-escalation zone.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad later said that if the US and Turkish military did not leave the country, Damascus would be able to use force.
The reason for the Russian-Turkish negotiations was a sharp aggravation of the situation in Idlib, where in January a large-scale offensive by the Syrian army against the positions of the armed opposition and terrorists began.
Government forces recaptured nearly half of the Idlib de-escalation zone and left behind a number of Turkish observation posts. After that, Ankara sharply increased its military contingent in the region and launched the operation “Spring Shield” to push the Syrian troops. Turkey is also supported by militants loyal to it.
