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Early on August 6, four service members of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) were killed in an attack by the al-Qaeda-affiliated Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) in the northern Lattakia countryside, according to Sputnik.
The attack targeted a key position of the SAA in Mount Nabi Yunis, a field source told the Russian news agency, adding that militants from the TIP managed to reach the position due to the rough terrain and heavy fog.
Syrian pro-government activities identified the four casualties as Colonel Muhammad Kamel Fadel, Captain Muhammad Salman Asaad and soldiers Muhammad Ghalib al-Akhras and Khaled Hajj Muhammad.
The TIP is a close ally of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the de-facto ruler of the Greater Idlib region and the former main branch of al-Qaeda in Syria. The Uyghur-led group is mainly active in the northern Lattakia countryside, the western Idlib countryside and the northwestern countryside of Hama.
Mount Nabi Yunis is one of the main heights in the northern Lattakia countryside. Russian forces are known to be deployed there to assist and advise the SAA.
Earlier this week, the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria revealed information about a plot to launch suicide attacks against the Russian military group in the country and said that the group’s command is ready to take deceive action.
Hours before the TIP’s deadly attack a series of Russian airstrikes destroyed a headquarters of HTS in the western outskirts of Idlib city.
The attack on Mount Nabi Yunis represents a major escalation and a violation of the ceasefire in Greater Idlib that was brokered by Russia and Turkey more than three years ago. The attack will likely be met with a fierce response from the SAA and the Russian military group in Syria.
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