Syrians north of Aleppo prepare for Turkish military operation
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s pledge to carry out a new military operation on Turkey’s southern border sparked speculations as to the possible targets, which could include towns such as Tel Rifaat, Manbij and Kobani.
Two days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a plan for a military operation, the Turkish pro-government Yeni Safak reported on Wednesday that preparations have been made for a military maneuver aimed at expanding the “safe zones” already established in northern Syria, with several identified goals.
The newspaper reported that among the possible targets of the Turkish army and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army are the towns of Tal Rifaat, Kobani, Ain Issan, and Manbij.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Friday that the Turkish forces and their loyal factions fired artillery shells.
On May 24, the observatory also reported that the Turkish army was shelling the villages of al-Wardia, Umm al-Hosh, Umm al-Qura, al-Malikiyah and Ain Daqna, within the areas of the Kurdish forces and the Syrian government, north of Aleppo, with no mention of the scale of destruction and losses.
