Illustrative image, source: sdf-press.com
A heated battle between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Turkish forces is still ongoing near the town of Ain Issa in northern Raqqa.
The battle broke out on March 19 following a number of attacks by Turkish-backed militants on SDF positions around Ayn Issa and nearby villages.
Click to see full-size map. Source: (@Suriyakmaps) on Twitter, Via Google Maps – TerraMetrics
On March 20, the SDF claimed that its fighters killed 18 Turkish-backed militants and injured 10 others around Ain Issa in the last three days. The Kurdish-led group also acknowledged that one of its fighters was killed and two others were injured.
An officer of the Turkish Armed Forces was also killed in the clashes, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
SDF fighters in Ain Issa have been using anti-tank guided missiles. At least one Turkish armored vehicle was destroyed near the town.
Turkish forces are still shelling Ain Issa. A day earlier, a child lost his life and several other civilians were wounded as a result of the shelling on the town.
Several units of the Russian Military Police and the Syrian Arab Army are currently present near Ain Issa. However, they are not taking part in the battle. The SOHR claims that some Syrian units are now withdrawing.
Turkish forces are not attempting to storm Ain Issa. However, they are working to reach the M4 highway. The strategic highway links Raqqa with al-Hasakah to the east and Aleppo to the west.
The battle around Ain Issa will likely intensify in the upcoming few days. Both the SDF and Turkish forces do not seem to be willing to step back as for now.
An officer of the Turkish Armed Forces was also killed in the clashes
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Zio-Kurdos killing Zio-Wahhabis. such fun. Assad wins again. https://media2.giphy.com/media/Gjm3ah2BVKg12/giphy.gif
SOHR and SDF are liars who are used as disinformation agencies by their western masters, or the promoters of terrorism, the same is true of course for any claims that come out of the world of terrorism in other avenues, even those once respectable by international institutions, the whole world of Western information is a slave to the lies created in its time to destroy the Islamic world and create the great isisrahell, do not believe a single word that comes out of those sewers.
erdogan is a bit daft and overstretched. he should fare better if he let go of idlib and any ambitions regarding syria and concentrate his forces in north east and beat the kurds to a pulp, returning them to be tenants in the borderland. and if not he’s wasting his resources and the disunited states of certified morons will continue to feed the kurds and thus support the jews in palestine and if anything is wrong in the middle east it’s the presence of the jews in palestine and elsewhere and they need to be dealt with till they all have fled or are at 6 feet under.
I can’t find any reports verifying the SOHR claims that SAA units are withdrawing from Ain Issa, so it’s probably more BS from the dwarf, and since they’ve only just reinforced their positions 2 or 3 weeks ago, I’d say there’s even less likelihood they’re withdrawing. Erdogan really want’s the highway, it’s not enough that Russia allows him to participate in joint Russian Turkish patrols, he wants to control it lock stock and barrel. And the latest reports say the Turks have introduced mandatory recruitment in Ras al Ain, so now they’re rounding up civilians and sticking them in the SNA, but what for is another story, are they just replacing lost fighters or are they preparing a new assault, mmmmm., hopefully it’s the first possibility and not the second one.
This is fun to watch. Both guys eliminating each other, the easier Syria can take back its country East of the Euphrates.
Would be even funnier if Russia/Iran had a hand in setting them off against each other. Using enemy tricks of divide and conquer against them.