The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

North of Raqqa | Factions strengthen their military presence, and shelling targets SDF-held areas in Tal Abyad and Ain Issa near M4 road

SOHR sources say that a number of members of the Turkish-backed factions were killed and injured, this evening, following an infiltration attempt by a group of Turkish-backed factions into SDF positions in Ain Issa camp in Al-Raqqah countryside.

On the other hand, Turkish-backed factions shelled villages in rural Tal Abyad and Ain Issa, including the villages of Korhassan, Khirbet Al-Baqar, Huriyah, Salib, Qarran, Fatsa, Debs, Jarn, Qaraan, Arida Sisan and Hoshan.

The shelling also affected positions near the international road “M4”. No casualties have been reported so far.

According to Syrian Observatory sources, Turkish-backed factions have reinforced their forces and brought in military equipment to frontlines of rural Tal Abyad and Ain Issa, north of Raqqa.

SOHR activists said earlier that SDF has targeted with at least three rocket-propelled grenades the Turkish base in the village of Komazda in Ain Issa countryside, north of Raqqa, responding to ground shelling by Turkish forces on the silos of “Shirkrak”, after Turkish forces withdrew from it in the last few hours.

In this context, SDF leaders have informed the Russian side that they should intervane to stop the attacks by Turkish-backed factions on Ain Issa area, and demanded the Russians leave Ain Issa if they fail to do so.

On October 18, Syrian Observatory activists monitored rocket fire by Turkish forces and their proxy factions on positions in the SDF-controlled villages of Dabas and Hawashan in the north-western countryside of Tal Abyad in northern Al-Raqqah.