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On May 11, a unit of the Turkish Army conducted a reconnaissance mission in the western Idlib countryside and the northern Lattakia countryside, the Syrian pro-opposition news outlet Enab Baladi reported. During the mission, the Turkish Army unit visited Kurd Mountains, the town of Jisr al-Shughur and the villages of Badama and Najia.
Enab Baladi claimed that the Turkish Army is planning to establish two new observation posts in western Idlib and northern Lattakia in order to monitor the de-escalation zone there. However, Syrian pro-government activists doubt that this will happen any time soon, as a Russian-backed military operation could begin there later this month.
The Turkish Army conducted a similar reconnaissance mission in the northern and northwestern Hama countryside on May 10. Despite this, no observation posts were established there.
Over the last five months, the Turkish Army established six observation posts in the towns of Andan, al-Eis and the al-Rashidin district in Aleppo governorate, in the towns of Tell Tuqan and Sarman in Idlib governorate, and in the town of Murak in the northern Hama countryside.
Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed on establishing these observation posts earlier this year during the Astana talks, in which the three countries also agreed that Jisr al-Shughur city and al-Ghab plains should be under the control of Russia and the Damascus government.
Erdogan should have realized the last time Russia bombed one of the towns a Turkish delegation was visiting that this was no longer acceptable. The SAA had to stop very successful operations and pack up and go to Ghouta the last time Erdogan set up unauthorized OB posts in Idlib, I’m sure Putin won’t be doing the same thing this time.