Turkish deployments in Syria hike ahead of joint patrol: SOHR

CAIRO – 14 March 2020: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that a Turkish column composed of 20 vehicles entered Syrian territories via Kafr Lusin Crossing a day before the Russian-Turkish patrol go into effect on Sunday.

As such, the numbers of Turkish military vehicles that entered Idlib's de-escalation zone since March 6 ceasefire and since February 2 are 920 and 4,350, respectively. Of those, 60 arrived on March 13.

Those include tanks, personnel carriers, armored vehicles, mobile bulletproof guard booths and military radars. The number of Turkish soldiers who have been deployed in Idlib and Aleppo since February 2 to date surpass 9,350.

March 13

SOHR observed that the Syrian Arab Army struck Kansafra town having a Turkish checkpoint in Jabal Al Zawiyah from its positions in the southern countryside of Idlib.

The Syrian Armed Forces removed the sand barriers set up by Turkish troops to block their advance on the M5 highway connecting Damascus with Aleppo, and the M4 highway connecting Aleppo and Latakia from the areas they control in the coastal governorate.

Turkish troops also removed the sand barriers near their checkpoint in Maar Hattat on the M5.

Turkey will patrol six kilometers northern the M4 while Russia will patrol six kilometers southern the highway. The patrolled area stretches from Tarnabah village, west of Saraqeb, to Ain Hoor in Latakia countryside.

March 12

SOHR monitored that an artillery shelling was launched by the Syrian Arab Army in Al Jub Al Ahmar against "Kabana frontlines in Latakia countryside, as well as the roads leading to the frontline in the same countryside." Yet, no casualties were reported.

The Syrian Armed Forces captured areas in Maarrat Mukhas and Al-Burayj near Kafr Nubl without facing any resistance as militants had fled. On March 7, the forces entered those areas but withdrew because of shelling by armed groups.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that two militants of militias backed by Turkey were killed and eight others were injured by a car bomb in Tal Half village, located in the countryside of Ras Al Ain northwestern Hasakah.

As indicated by the agency, a number of vehicles moved the bodies and the injured to Turkish territories.

On the other hand, unknown fighter jets hit sites of the Syrian Arab Army southern Bou Kamal district in the countryside of Deir Al Zour on the borders with Iraq causing only material losses.

Also, 18 elements of Iran-backed militias were killed by airstrikes eastern Syria.

March 11

The Syrian Arab Army fired several rockets targeting points in Al-Sarmaniyah town in Sahl Al-Ghab in the north-western countryside of Hama, according to SOHR.

March 10

RT Arabic reported on March 10 that Turkey withdrew all heavy equipment from its 12 checkpoints in Syria.

The Russian Ministry of Defense negated a statement by Turkish president Recep Tayip Erdogan about the destruction of eight Pantsir missile systems in Idlib describing the declaration as "exaggerated."

On March 8, Erdogan announced the killing of 59 Turkish soldiers in Idlib since the launching of Spring Shield Operation against the Syrian Arab Army on March 1.