The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based organization with a large network of informants on the ground, reported that the bombing was launched from its locations in the village of Al-Arishah.

The escalation of tension remains significant, as this latest event demonstrates. Meanwhile, military reinforcements continue to arrive from the opposing sides in northern Syria.

Local sources told mid-Ain that a military alert was raised among pro-Turkish forces stationed in the villages of Umm Ashba and Bab al-Khair, and among the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) with government forces stationed in Abu Rasin.

Turkish and Syrian forces continue to flow into Idlib, which is on the verge of a perhaps final battle for control of this bastion opposing the regime of Bachar al-Asad, which is supported by Vladimir Putin’s Russia in the war effort.

The SOHR has reported that almost 5,000 Turkish military vehicles have entered the northern province of Syria since the sealed ceasefire between Turkey and Russia on 5 March. This now totals 8,325 military vehicles, 11,500 troops and 66 Turkish checkpoints since February.

The Eurasian nation entered northern Syria through the Turkish-Syrian border under the pretext of harassing Kurdish-Syrian forces that make up the People’s Protection Units (YPG), which are integrated within the SDF; and with the aim of obtaining a better geostrategic position in the region. It should be noted that Turkey accuses the Kurdish ethnic group of carrying out terrorist acts in the south of Turkish territory, and hence the excuse of pursuing this rival. The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, reached an agreement with the United States government of Donald Trump to settle in the north of Syria around the province of Idlib, the last rebel stronghold opposing the government of Bachar al-Asad, which continues with its military offensive aimed at reunifying the entire territory and ending this area where the opposition takes refuge, which he denounces as harbouring elements linked to jihadist terrorism. In fact, Turkey also made use of the collaboration of paid mercenaries attached to groups formerly linked to terrorist entities such as Daesh and Al-Qaeda, as various media had pointed out.

Thus, the United States abandoned the Kurds of the YPG to their fate after the pact with Erdogan, despite the fact that they were vital in bringing down Daesh in Al-Baghouz more than a year ago.

This Ottoman incursion makes Damascus and Moscow uncomfortable since it is a brake on their advance towards Idlib; even more so considering the Turkish association with Syrian militiamen attached to groups of the jihadist sphere. In fact, in view of the acrimonious situation, Ankara and Moscow went so far as to seal the aforementioned cessation of hostilities in March which, in theory, is still in force, but which has been breached on several occasions. All this in a situation like the present one in which both Russia and Turkey maintain their checkpoints and practically joint patrols in the area.

Information on the sending of soldiers from Egypt to Syria is denied

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Thursday denied reports from the Turkish media that Egypt transferred dozens of its soldiers to fight alongside the forces of President Bashar al-Asad.

The SOHR cited sources described as “reliable” noting that “there is no truth in what Anadolu (official Turkish news agency) is promoting about the Egyptian government sending dozens of soldiers to fight alongside Al-Asad’s forces and militias loyal to them in Syria.

Anadolu had previously indicated the presence of Egyptian officers and pilots within Syrian territories, who allegedly participated in military operations as well as air strikes in several Syrian regions, which was denied by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.