Image: aa.com.tr
Early morning of July 16, Turkish armed forces shelled positions of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in the city of Saraqib in southern Idlib, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
Turkish-backed militants also shelled positions of the Syrian Army in the towns of Hantoteen, Khan Assubul, Dadikh as well as in the city of Ma`arat al-Nu`man.
“There is no information on any casualties [as a result of the shelling],” the SOHR said in a report.
The SAA responded to the artillery strikes by shelling militants’ positions in the towns of Sarmin, al-Nerab and Afes in southern Idlib.
A day before, the SAA pounded militants’ positions in Greater Idlib with more than 350 shells and rockets. At least three militants of the al-Fath al-Mubin Operations Room, which includes Turkish-backed factions and al-Qaeda-affiliated groups, were injured in the attack.
Turkey is trying to intimidate the SAA. Such acts are encouraging the hostile behavior of Greater Idlib militants. Ankara pledged to neutralize the militants’ threat according the agreement with Russia signed on March 5. However, it is yet to fulfill its obligations.
