Turkish forces are seen near Mount Barsaya, northeast of Afrin, Syria January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
The Turkish military is building yet another position in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on July 8.
According to the London-based monitoring group, the new position is being built near Khirbat al-Naqus, one of the key towns of the al-Ghab Plains in the northwestern Hama countryside. Turkish engineer units are reportedly constructing barriers, installing pre-made fortifications and digging tunnels at the position.
The new Turkish position is located just a few kilometers away from a military camp in the government-held town of Jurin where troops from the Syrian Arab Army’s elite 25th Special Mission Forces Division, also known as the Tiger Forces, and the Russian military are known to be deployed.
“The importance of the new position comes from its proximity to the gatherings of the regime forces and the Russian camp in Qal’at Mirza, northwest of Jurin,” the SOHR said in its report.
This was the third position to be established by the Turkish military in Greater Idlib this year. The first position was set up inside the town of Afes in the southern Idlib countryside in January. The second position was built in June near the town of Mjdlya that is also located in the governorate’s southern countryside.
The Turkish military maintains more than 60 positions in Greater Idlib. Yet, it has been making no efforts to implement the ceasefire agreement on the region which was brokered more than two years ago.
The recent expansion of the Turkish military is apparently meant to deter Damascus and its allies. This is especially important right now as Turkey is preparing to launch a new military operation against Kurdish forces in northern and northeastern Syria.
Bomb them up. See how they react but if they are all destroyed, it gives breathing space.