Turkish soldiers stand guard as a funeral convoy, carrying coffins of drowned Syrian migrants drives to the Turkish-Syrian border in Suruc. REUTERS/Sertac Kayar – RTX1R28Z
Two Turkish soldiers were injured in a mortar attack that target their observation post near the town of Shir Mughar in the northwestern countryside of Syria’s Hama, Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense said in an official statement in the late hours of May 4.
The Turkish defense ministry didn’t identify the side responsible for the attack. However, Syrian and Turkish sources, including the state-run Anadolu Agency, had accused the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), that has been shelling nearby terrorists’ positions for the last two weeks.
The Turkish observation post near Shir Mughar is one of 12 such position established in western Aleppo, southeastern Idlib, northern Hama and northern Lattakia, last year under an agreement reached in the framework of the Astana Process. The posts are supposedly responsible for monitoring the violations in the demoralized zone.
According to the Turkish Defense Ministry, the two injured soldiers were evacuated by air. Opposition sources had released videos showing four Turkish helicopters landing in Shir Mughar’s post.
The Ministry of Defense of Syria has not commented on the situation so far. However, pro-government activists said that the mortar attack may have been carried out by terrorists trying to provoke an escalation between Damascus and Ankara.
Destroy all counter Syrian military operation centers.No more Syrian occupation. No Turkeys oil pipe line from Omar oil field and Der Ezzor oil pipeline to Turkey.