Turkish-backed factions’ rocket fire on regime-held areas in rural Abu Rasin leaves casualties and destroys Russian military vehicle

Syrian Observatory activists reported that Turkish-backed factions fired several rockets on regime forces’ positions in the area of Abu Rasin and the road between Abu Rasin and Tal Tamr. According to very reliable SOHR sources, a Russian vehicle was damaged as a Russian military patrol coming from Rubay’at was passing near the targeted sites. The shelling also killed and injured many regime soldiers, the sources added.

Yesterday, Observatory sources monitored vast displacement movement from Abu Rasin (Zarkan), Kasra and Zahr Al-Arab, just after the Russian forces lowered their flags in areas where regime forces are deployed. This displacement coincides with the unordinary movements of Turkish troops and Turkish-backed “National Army” in Ras Al-Ain countryside, amid residents’ fears of Turkish advancement into the area.

SOHR sources also reported that a Russian military delegation was heading to “Alloka” area to check the water purification station that provides Al-Hasakah province with water, when Turkish forces intercepted it preventing the delegation from crossing. Activists informed SOHR that the Turkish forces opened fire in the air to force the Russians to return back which reflected a side of the escalating disagreement between Russia and Turkey. Such disagreement started to publicly emerge with the reiterated attacks on the Russian airbase of Hmeimim.

According to reliable SOHR sources, when the Russian delegation returned to Abu Rasin area, it lowered all the Russian flags that had been risen with regime flags on posts where regime troops were deployed along the area between Kasra and Tal Tamr.