Ain Issa | U.S. offers assurances to SDF regarding Turkish attempts to cut off Hasaka-Aleppo international road

Reliable sources have informed the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights that the U.S. side has assured the SDF that Turkish forces will not be able to advance and control any new area in NE Syria, especially the area of Ain Issa in northern countryside of Raqqa.

According to the U.S. side, there are red lines for Turkish positions in Syria and they cannot crosse them.

This comes in light of a major Turkish escalation on the area of Ain Issa, and their ongoing attempts to cut off the Hasakeh – Aleppo international road, known as “M4”.

The U.S. side also confirmed that the Russians are “guests” in the region. However, sources have told the Syrian Observatory that there is no confidence in U.S. promises and assurances and that the Russians have never left an area after they entered it.

On January 3, SOHR sources said that Turkish forces are establishing a new military base opposite the town of Ain Issa in northern countryside of Raqqa, as they began drilling work and brought in military and logistical equipment to build the base. It is worth nothing that this is the second Turkish base built since late November.

On November 19, reliable sources in the northern countryside of Al-Raqqah informed SOHR that Turkish forces started establishing a new military base in Tamameeh village in rural Ain Issa, nearly two kilometres away from Ain Issa district which is under the control of Syria Democratic Forces and regime forces. Meanwhile, Turkish forces started bringing in logistical supplies and building materials to the area.