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The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) had deployed large reinforcements along the frontline with the Turkish-occupied area of Afrin in the northern countryside of Aleppo, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on November 13.
According to the London-based monitoring group, the reinforcements included battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and logistics.
“Regime forces will be deployed along the frontlines with Turkish-backed factions in the district of Sherawa in Afrin countryside,” the SOHR said in its report.
This was reportedly the fourth time the SAA deployed reinforcements in Kurdish-held areas to the south of Afrin in the last few months.
The Turkish military and its proxies are currently preparing to launch a large-scale operation against Kurdish forces, namely the People’s Protection Units (YPG), in northern and northeastern Syria. One of the main targets of the operation will supposedly be the town of Tell Rifaat, to the south of Afrin.
The SAA is apparently preparing to stop any Turkish move with support from Russia. The level of coordination between the army and the YPG remains unclear, however.
Any Turkish operation against the YPG will further destabilize Syria and deepen the humanitarian crisis in the northern and northeastern region.
