Turkish Military Continues Expansion In Greater Idlib, Builds New Position Near Key Highways

Turkish army vehicles and military personnel are seen near the Turkish-Syrian border on October 12, 2019. IMAGE: Reuters / Murad Sezer

On June 25, the Turkish military established a new position near the town of Mjdlya in the southern part of the Syrian region of Greater Idlib, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The London-based monitoring group said that the Turkish military deployed battle tanks, armored personnel carriers and anti-tank guided missile systems at the new position.

Mjdlya is located less than three kilometers to the south of the M4 highway, which links the port city of Lattakia with Aleppo city, and around ten kilometers to the west and north of the M5 highway, which links Aleppo with the capital, Damascus.

The new Turkish military position oversees some 25 kilometers of the government-held M5 highway, between the towns of Mara ‘at al-Nu’man and Saraqib.

This was the second position to be established by the Turkish military in Greater Idlib this year. The first position was set up inside the town of Afes, which is located right to the north of Saraqib, in January.

The Turkish military has been expanding its presence in Greater Idlib, while ignoring its commitments under the 2020 ceasefire agreement with Russia. More than 60 Turkish positions were built in the region over the last few years.

The establishment of Mjdlya position came amid reports of a near operation by the Turkish military and its proxies against the Syrian Democratic Forces in northern Syria. The position may have been established to deter Syrian government forces who are reportedly preparing to support the Kurdish-led group.

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