Turkish military forces, allied militants shell strategic town in northern Syria

Turkish military forces and their allied militants have reportedly renewed shelling on a Kurdish-controlled town in Syria’s northern province of Raqqah in a bid to advance in that strategic area, as Ankara is purportedly preparing for a new cross-border offensive in the Arab country.

Syria’s official news agency SANA, citing local sources speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that the shelling targeted the town of Ayn Issa and the M4 international highway, which are situated near the border with Turkey.

The sources added that the strikes caused material damage to a number of houses and properties in the targeted areas, and left local people in a state of panic as a result of the attack.

The town of Ayn Issa has a strategic significance as it serves as a hub connecting Aleppo and Hasakah provinces through the M4 highway. It's also connected with the Tal Abyad city on the Syrian-Turkish border.

Russia says Turkey’s military action in Syria would be 'unacceptable'

Russia slams Turkey’s declared plans to launch a new military campaign in northern Syria, saying an escalation of military actions in the war-ravaged Arab country would be "unacceptable.”

Last week, Turkish military forces and their allied militants shelled the villages of Abu Surra, al-Dibs and the M4 international highway in the same Syrian province.

Tal Tamr power substation out of service because of Turkish shelling

Also on Friday, the electrical substation in Tal Tamr town of Syria’s northeastern province of Hasakah went out of service after Turkish forces and their mercenaries targeted the 66 kV line feeding the substation.

The attack led to a power outage in the center of Tal Tamr and its countryside.

SANA reported that Turkish forces also struck the villages of Tawila, Tal Tawil and al-Abush, causing material damage in those areas.

Turkey has deployed forces in Syria in violation of the Arab country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. 

Turkish air strike on Syria border post claims 11 lives: Report

A Turkish airstrike on a Syrian border post has claimed the lives of 11 people in the war-torn country’s Kurdish-majority north, with reports falling short of specifying whether the victims were affiliated with the Damascus government forces or Kurdish militants.

Ankara-backed militants were deployed to northeastern Syria in October 2019 after Turkish military forces launched a long-threatened cross-border invasion in a declared attempt to push members of the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militant group away from border areas.

Ankara views the YPG as a terrorist organization tied to the homegrown Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been seeking an autonomous Kurdish region in Turkey since 1984.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and other senior officials have said Damascus will respond through all legitimate means available to Turkey's ongoing ground offensive.

On August 8, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hinted at his country’s plan for a new cross-border operation in Syria to purge the YPG fighters, who form the backbone of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

New Turkish cross-border operation in northern Syria looms large after air strikes on military posts: Sources

Local sources say the Turkish military is apparently preparing for a new cross-border operation in northern Syria, following an air strike on military posts in the Aleppo countryside.

“We will continue our fight against terrorism. Our decision to establish a 30-kilometer-deep (18.6-mile) secure line along our southern border is final,” Erdogan said in an address to Turkish diplomats attending the 13th Ambassadors Conference in the capital Ankara.

Erdogan has already stated that a new Turkish operation against the YPG militants will remain on the agenda until security concerns are addressed.

Both Iran and Russia, which have been aiding Damascus in its anti-terror campaign, have warned Turkey against launching such an offensive.

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