The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Under a cover of heavy aerial and ground firepower .. the Turkish forces and the factions achieve new advancements in the areas of Ras Al-Ayn and Tal Abyad and the M4 witnesses fierce battles

Fierce battles are continuing in several areas in both Al-Hasakah and Al-Raqqah countryside, between the Turkish forces and their loyal factions against the Syria Democratic Forces, where the clashes which are accompanied by intense aerial and ground strikes, are concentrated in areas inside Ras Al-Ayn city and villages west of it, as well as other areas at the outskirts of Tal Abyad city and its countryside, amid advancements achieved by the Turkish forces and the factions in the area represented by imposing control over several positions, which led to the moving of clashes to Al-Hasakah – Aleppo Highway known as (M4), after the factions took the control of a village their, where the factions are seeking to tear the area apart and isolate Tal Abyad and Ras Al-Ayn through cutting off the roads and prevent the military reinforcements from being reached the both towns with the purpose of besiege them, while the ongoing violent clashes and the aerial and ground bombardment left more human losses.

Thus, it rose to at least 36, the number of areas over which the Turkish forces with the Syrian factions loyal to them imposed their control in the east of the Euphrates, since the start of “Peace Spring” Operation on the 9th of October 2019, they are Sluk, Mazra’aat al-Hammadi, Abu Qabr, Mazra’aat al-Masihi, Hamida, al-Mahida, al-Dadat, al-Yabseh, al-Meshrfeh, Tal Fender, Bir Ashiq, al-Terwaziyyeh, Lazkeh, Hwyran, al-Wastah, al-Ghajir, Shokan, al-Khalidiyah, al-Aridah, al-Nabhan, Om al-Jern, Ghzil, al-Hawi, Tababin, Jamous, Felyou, al-Zaydi and Al-Daroubiyyah in Tal Abyad area, and Mabroukah and Tal Halaf towns and the villages of Al-Kantari, Wadhah, Twijal, Alok, Kashto, and Aksas in the Ras al-Ayn area.

And with the fall of more casualties, it rose to 104 at least, the number of members of the Syria Democratic Forces who were killed by Turkish air and land strikes and clashes against Turkish Forces and the factions loyal to, also it rose to 76, the number of the Syrian factions loyal to Ankara including 13 of the pro-Turkish cells who were killed in targeting and clashes against SDF, while 8 Turkish soldiers were killed in clashes and targeting, Turkey acknowledged the death of only 5 of them, amid information about other Turkish casualties at the Syrian – Turkish border, and the death toll is expected to rise because there are some people in critical situation, in addition to information about other casualties.