Key Turkish Base In Northern Syria Hit For Third Time In October

Turkish forces are seen near Mount Barsaya, northeast of Afrin, Syria January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

On October 20, an indirect fire attack targeted a key base of the Turkish military near the town of Dabiq in the northern countryside of Syria’s Aleppo.

The base was reportedly hit by a salvo of rockets that was allegedly launched from a pocket in the northern Aleppo countryside jointly held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syrian government forces. NO casualties or material losses were reported as a result of the attack.

This was the third indirect fire attack to target Dabiq base this month. On October 8, the base was struck by several artillery shells and rockets. Later on October 13, a number of rockets hit the base. Both previous attacks were blamed on the SDF.

The new attack on the base was likely a response to recent Turkish artillery strikes on SDF territory in northern and northeastern Syria.

In the morning, the Turkish military and its proxies shelled several towns and villages held by the group in the northern Aleppo countryside.

The SDF and its affiliates, first and foremost the Afrin Liberation Forces, attacked several Turkish bases and border posts in the northern Aleppo countryside in the last few weeks in what appears to be an attempt to deter the Turkish military and its proxies.

These attacks have only led to more escalation by Turkey, which could use them to justify a new invasion into northern and northeastern Syria.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC:

• Turkey Wants To Convert Al-Qaeda’s HTS Into ‘Moderate Opposition’: Russia’s Envoy To Syria
• Syrian Army Deploys Troops Near Village In Daraa After Deadly Terrorist Attack