The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

SOHR | “Reports of new advances by Turkish forces and their proxies into Tal Abyad and eastern villages untrue”

Reliable SOHR sources have confirmed that the reports circulated on media of Turkish forces and their proxy factions’ advancement into Tal Abyad and villages in the east of the city are completely false.

 

Meanwhile, Turkish forces are still shelling Tal Abyad, Ras Al-Ain city and countryside.

 

SOHR sources reported earlier this morning that the Turkish ground attacks on positions in the area between the east of Euphrates river and the west of Tigris river were all foiled and the “invaders” failed to advance into any positions, as Syria Democratic Forces and military councils managed to thwart these attacks which targeted positions in Tal Abyad, Ras Al-Ain, Al-Malikiyyah, villages in Ain Al-Arab (Kobani), Al-Darbasiyyah and other positions in the region.

 

It is worth noting that the clashes were suspended this morning at 3:00 am, where tense calm prevailed on the frontlines. On the other hand, sporadic artillery fire pounded the western countryside of Ain Al-Arab, Beir Aasheq in the east of Tal Abyad, and other positions also in Tal Abyad. While Ras Al-Ain (Sere Kaniye) came under intensive shelling.

 

This relative calm coincided with new military reinforcement brought in by SDF to the Syria-Turkey border strip, along with Turkish forces and factions’ build-up in Tal Abyad and Ain Al-Arab countryside. Moreover, Turkish forces removed the border wall opposite Tal Halaf archaeological area, west of Ras Al-Ain city.

 

On Wednesday, SOHR sources have reported that SDF managed to repel the first round of attacks by Turkish forces and their proxy factions on Tal Abyad area and surrounding villages. In the meantime, SOHR activists have documented further fatalities due to the shelling and clashes, as 11 SDF fighters were killed, while the attackers lost six militiamen, whose identities remained unknown and whether they were Turkish forces or their proxy factions. It is worth noting five other SDF fighters were killed on Wednesday in Turkish aerial and ground strikes on Ras Al-Ain area.

 

Furthermore, over 33 SDF fighters sustained various injuries on the first day of the “Peace Spring” operation announced about by Turkish forces and their proxy Syrian factions.

 

Similarly, exchange of fire with medium and heavy weapons between both sides were concentrated on positions nearby and on the outskirts of Al-Qahtaniyyah, Amuda, Ain Al-Arab, Tal Abyad, Ras Al-Ain, Al-Darbasiyyah, Al-Qamishli and Al-Malikyyah, in the area between the east of Euphrates river and the west of Tigris river. Also, SDF shelled positions inside the Turkish territory with mortars.