Iraq, NDF, Syria, Syrian Arab Army, Turkey, USA

Syria in the Last 24 Hours: Turkish Army to Expand Military Operations to Iraqi Borders

Posted by Internationalist 360° on

Turkish Army to Expand Military Operations to Iraqi Borders

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Turkish Army plans to expand the scope of its military operations against the Kurdish forces to cover areas at the border with Iraq in Eastern Syria after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu held meetings with senior Iraqi officials, the Arabic-language media reported.

During the meetings, the Turkish foreign minister has discussed PKK’s presence in Sinjar and the military base recently set up by the group to launch attacks on Turkish territories, the Arabic-language Sputnik news agency quoted unnamed informed sources as saying.

The sources said that the Turkish and Iraqi officials also voiced their concern over the US support for the Kurdish groups stationed along Syria-Turkey borders and some border regions along the Turkey-Iraq-Syria triangle.

Meantime, Deputy Head of Security Research Center Emad Olov said the meeting was linked to the military operations in Afrin region.

Olov reiterated that the Turkish military operation underway against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) will expand to the Iraqi borders.

In a relevant development on Monday, a Turkish media outlet reported that the Turkish armed forces have advanced into Azaz region East of Afrin within the framework of the Olive Branch Operation in Northern Syria.

The state-run Anadolu news agency reported that the Turkish army has continued its ground assault as the Olive Branch Operation entered its third day.

Anadolu said that the army men have advanced into the Azaz region too to expand the scope of the operation.

President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Turkey would not take a step back from the operation in the Afrin region. He also said that Ankara had an agreement with Russia regarding its military operation against a US-backed Kurdish militia.

Speaking at an Ankara Chamber of Commerce awards ceremony, Erdogan stressed that he wants to support the national security and territorial integrity of Syria as Turkey “has no designs on territories of another country.”

Turkish Army, Terrorist Allies Attacking Kurds in Five Directions

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Turkish Army and Ankara-backed militant groups have opened five different fronts against the Kurdish fighters in Afrin region in Northwestern Aleppo within the framework of the Olive Branch Operation in the last three days, field sources reported on Tuesday.

The sources said that the army and affiliated militants known as the Olive Branch Operation forces kicked off their attacks on the Kurds from five flanks, including the town of Bolbol North of Afrin, Rajou region Northwest of Afrin, Sheikh al-Hadid region West of Afrin, Jandaris region Southwest of Afrin and Azaz region to East of the Kurdish-held town of Afrin.

Also, the Turkish Air Force continues massive bombing raids against the Kurds in the villages and settlements in Afrin region, hitting residential areas and the Kurdish fighters’ positions.

The Kurdish sources reported on Monday that over 25 civilians were killed or wounded in heavy attacks by the Turkish Army and Ankara-backed militants on the town of Afrin in Northern Aleppo.

The sources said that 11 civilians, including 6 women and children, were killed and 16 more were wounded in air and artillery attacks by the Turkish army and Ankara-backed militants on Afrin.

Terrorists assassinate member of reconciliation committee in Daraa countryside

23 January، 2018
Daraa, SANA

A terrorist group assassinated member of the national reconciliation committee Mohammad Abdul-Aziz al-Shihadat in Dael town in Daraa northern countryside.

SANA reporter in Daraa said that terrorist groups on Monday detonated an explosive device they had planted in al-Shihadat’s car in Dael, leaving him dead.

Al-Shihadat works as a teacher in Dael town, and he is one of its dignitaries as he was active in the domain of local reconciliations.

Army thwarts al-Nusra attack on military posts in Lattakia countryside, kills 13 terrorists

23 January، 2018
Lattakia, SANA

Army units operating in Lattakia northern countryside thwarted on Tuesday an attack by Jabhat al-Nusra-affiliated terrorist groups on a number of military posts in Lattakia northern countryside.

A military source told SANA that army units clashed with terrorists from Jabhat al-Nusra and other affiliated groups after they attacked a number of military posts on the direction of al-Sarraf village.

The source added that 13 terrorists were killed in the clashes, in addition to destroying their arms and equipment including machinegun-equipped vehicles, cannons and mortar launchers.

Armed groups fire 3 mortar shells on al-Wafideen Camp in Damascus Countryside

23 January، 2018
Damascus Countryside, SANA

The armed groups fired mortar shells on al-Wafideen Camp residential area in Damascus Countryside in a new violation of the de-escalation zone agreement in Eastern Ghouta.

A source at Damascus Countryside Police Command said that three mortar shells were fired by the armed groups on al-Wafideen Camp on Tuesday, causing material damages in properties.

The Camp is located near al-Rihan farms in Douma area, from which terrorist groups, most of them affiliated with the so-called “Islam Army,” carry out attacks against civilians.

SANA’s correspondent in the area said that the Syrian Arab Army responded to the attack by targeting with precision strikes the areas from which the shells were fired, destroying mortar launchers and inflicting losses upon the armed groups.