Image: aa.com.tr
On April 10, the Turkish military and its Syrian proxies shelled Kurdish-held areas in the northern countryside of Aleppo escalating the situation in the region.
According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the intense shelling targeted the towns of Tell Rifaat, Sheikh Hilal, Bosoufane, al-Malikiyah, Maraanaz, Kaft Anoun, Kasht’ar, al-Irshadiyah as well as Menagh Air Base.
The Hawar News Agency (ANHA) said the towns were targeted with heavy artillery and rocket launchers. No casualties were reported as a result of the shelling.
The intense Turkish shelling may have been a response to recent attacks by the Afrin Liberation Forces (ALF). Earlier this month, several Turkish-backed militants were killed or injured in attacks by the Kurdish guerilla group.
Kurdish areas in northern Aleppo are jointly controlled by the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and the Syrian Arab Army (SAA). Several units of the Russian Military Police were also deployed in these areas over the last few years.
Not much going on elsewhere so might as well try out the toys to get the hearts pumping.
“Kurdish areas in northern Aleppo are jointly controlled by the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and the Syrian Arab Army (SAA). Several units of the Russian Military Police were also deployed in these areas over the last few years.”
Pure and utter BS from South Front, originally there were no SAA here at all, just YPG and Russian forces, that was what the joint Russian/Turkish MOU stipulated, and the Turks and Russians conducted joint patrols, and probably still do now, the SAA only arrived later on, after Putin and Erdogan had come to other arrangements concerning Idlib, only then were the SAA were allowed back into this area. So tell the truth SF, this is actually Russian/YPG territory the Turks are bombing, the SAA don’t call the shots here at all, unless of course the Russians have all left Tall rif at and let the SAA take over without announcing it, but I doubt that very much, otherwise the Turks would’ve already invaded the area and eradicated the ALF. Look at a map of the Tall rif At area that shows you Turkish air and artillery strikes, the Turks are hammering the Russian controlled area without mercy, and since there are heaps of Russians stationed here in the area, and not one of them has been accidentally killed by the plethora of Turkish bombardments, I can only assume the Turks know exactly where every Russian soldier is at all times, so the Turkish and Russian coordination/deconflation centre must be doing a good job of protecting Russian soldiers, it’s just a pity it doesn’t do the same thing for SAA soldiers, and for that matter the civilians too.
The areas in yellow around Tall rif At are YPG and Russian controlled, the SAA are present there but don’t have any authority in the area, they’re only there to help protect the Kurds from Turkish assaults, which is exactly the same thing they do in Al Hasakah. 10 separate attacks by the Turks according to this source, and even though it’s from an opposition source [they say they’re independent] of info, I personally trust the info it provides, except for when it quotes SOHR propaganda, but then again so does SF on more than just the odd occasion.
https://syria.liveuamap.com/
guns, oil are toys in reality. Water is everything at the end. There is no option to get water from wells, from iraq, Iran or other regions of Syria (already it by drought). Water can be opened and closed by Turkey to north Syria and rest of Syria.
Question to experts: will Turkey use water as weapon, what would the impact f Turkey cuts water to Syria and Iraq?