The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR; UK-based pro-militant media outlet) reported on October 8 that firefights erupted between Turkey-led forces and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) at the Turkish border with Syria’s Idlib province.
The firefights took place near the area of Kafrlusin. According other sources, the sides use firearms and mortars each against other.
Some shells allegedly hit refugee camps located near the border:
More videos coming in: pic.twitter.com/sdp7JI9ycL
— UmawiSupremacist (@AbuHumamAlUmawi) 8 October 2017
Turkish mortars falling upon refugee camps on the Turkish-Syrian border close to Deir Hassan and refugees are fleeing the area: pic.twitter.com/f1jyPFgM78
— UmawiSupremacist (@AbuHumamAlUmawi) 8 October 2017
Unconfirmed reports are also circulating that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham may surrender its contact line with Kurdish militias in northern Aleppo to Turkey-led forces. However, this is still unconfirmed. The source of the rumors is pro-HTS media activists.
On October 7, Turkey continued deployment of large forces including Leopart 2 battle tanks, M-60T battle tanks, T-155 Fırtına self-propelled howitzers and other equipment.
Infographics by the Turkish state-run media outlet Anadolu Agency explains a “public version” of the upcoming Turkish military operation in Idlib:
Click to see the full-size image
