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The International and regional powers in Syria are increasing military operations.
The Turkish state has intensified its attacks on Shehba regions, especially on Ain Issa, as well as continuing to build up its power in Idlib, according to Fırat News Agency (ANF).
The city of Ain Issa in northern Syria, controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), is now under continous heavy shelling by the Turkish army and Turkish backed militias.
Russia, tries to counteract the Turkish state attacks in northeast Syria, and responds to the Turkish state’s military build up in Idlib.
According to ANF, there have also been attacks in different parts of Syria from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Hurras Al Din jihadist groups.
The Turkish state continues its attacks despite the agreement signed with the US on 17 October 2019 in Ankara and with Russia on 22 October 2019, following the attacks of Girê Spî and Serêkaniyê on 9 October 2019.
In the region attacks have intensified in the last 2 months around the strategically important city of Ain Issa and also attacks between Kobanê-Raqqa and Manbij-Cizîrê region.
On December 10, 2020, military officials of Russia, SDF and the Damascus government held a meeting in Ain Issa.
In order to monitor the ceasefire at the meeting, three common observation points were established in Ain Issa. After the observation points were established however, the attacks started to intensify again.
New observation posts of Russia
Russia established two bases near Til Semen (between Ain Îssa and Raqqa), to the south of Ain Issa. Parallel to the bases built by Russia in the south of Ain Issa and the simultaneous evacuation of the observation points in Idlib by the Turkish state, it has posed the question: “Is the Afrin scenario being repeated in Ain Issa?”
Simultaneously attacks of Turkey on Ain Issa, Russia has kept up intense shelling towards the Cebel Zawiye and Seyh El Gab region to the south of Idlib.
According to the Moscow ceasefire signed between Russia and the Turkish state on March 5, 2020, the area had to be handed over to the Syrian government and the M4 highway passing through it had to be opened.
However, the Turkish state did not fulfill this requirement, which it had committed to with the Moscow ceasefire, and Russia announced two months ago that it had suspended joint patrols here indefinitely.
Last week there was an attack against a Russian built military observatory base near Til Semen town between Ain Issa and Raqqa.
Hurras El Dîn, the dominant organisation in the south of Idlib, which Russia is now shelling, claimed responsibility. Hurras El Din, who formed the group, Tehrir al-Sham as a reformist militia with allegiance to Al-Qaeda, organised an action for the first time in the northeast Syria with this action.
Observation towers on the M4 road
The Turkish state concentrating on military shipments to Idlib has focused on the area south of the M4 highway, that is, the area that is under the control of the Hurras Al Din group.
The Turkish army started to build military posts at certain points on the M4 highway to the south of Idlib controlled by members of these supported gangs who are close to them.
Currently, the Turkish state has 70 military posts north of Idlib and Latakia, 23 of them are south of the M4 highway.
It is estimated that the number of Turkish soldiers in the region exceeds 20 thousand.
In Qamishlo, the gangs of Difayî Weteni, paramilitary elements of the Damascus regime, abducted some civilians.
Before these abductions, a member of the Internal Security Force was also suspiciously attacked near a neighborhood controlled by these same gangs. After that, the Internal Security Forces detained some Syrian government officials and paramilitary group members.
In the region, tension has significanlty increased in the last week and negotiations have continued under the mediation of Russia to reduce the tension, but no results have been achieved yet.
