Russian SU-24M jet fighter armed with laser guided bombs takes off from a runaway at Hmeimim airbase in Syria. (Source: AP)
The situation in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib, where many terrorist groups remain active, is slowly spinning out of control.
On July 22, warplanes of the Russian Airspace Force carried out at least three airstrikes on the southern part of the region.
The Russian airstrikes targeted the town of al-Bara, where the Turkish military maintains a post. Al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the de-facto ruler of Greater Idlib, and Turkish-backed factions have a strong presence around the town.
The airstrikes were a response to the repeated violations of the ceasefire in Greater Idlib, which was brokered on March 5 of last year by Russia and Turkey.
Recently, the al-Fateh al-Mubeen Operations Room, led by HTS, has stepped up its attacks. Dozens of ceasefire violations were reported on a daily basis over the last few weeks. On July 20, five officers of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) were killed in a single attack.
In a more recent attack, al-Fateh al-Mubeen militants targeted a position of the SAA near the town of al-Burayj in the southern part of Greater Idlib with a Metis-M anti-tank guided missile.
The militants’ never-ending provocations may soon force the SAA and its allies to resume ground operations in Greater Idlib. This will likely lead to a military confrontation with Turkish forces in the region.
It’s inevitable, the West is directing it’s pet terrorist’s to escalate, which will eventually bring a response by SAA, and allies. Confrontation with Turkey is long overdue, but the day’s of the terrorists, and presence of US, Turkey, and Israel in Syria is coming to a close. There seems little point to use SAA, and allied resources against these forces that cant sustain their presence in Syria much longer. US is being pushed out, and with them will go their pet terrorist’s and Turkey will either leave on it’s own, or face a fight it can’t win. It’s the same for Israel without US backing.