Turkey’s military build-up | Forces to set up new observation post on the outskirts of Saraqeb city near M5 road, and Iranian-backed militias threaten to target the post
Reliable sources have told SOHR that Turkish forces have planned for days to establish an observation post, 200 meters from the Damascus- Aleppo international road “M5” on the north-western outskirts of saraqeb city.
According to Syrian Observatory sources, Turkish forces were threatened by pro-Iranian militias stationed inside the city of Saraqeb, that if the military base was established close to the frontlines with the opposition factions, the militias would shell the post, forcing the Turkish forces to change the location of the post.
Consequently, Turkish forces withdrew to the back of the Damascus-Aleppo road, at a distance of 600 meters on the opposite side of Saraqeb city near the town of Afis, and started erecting soil barriers to establish the new military post in the eastern Idlib countryside.
On December 11, SOHR activists said that Turkish forces have established today a new military post in Al-Wasata area, south of Al-Atarab in western Aleppo countryside, where vehicles, heavy weapons and trucks, as well as armoured vehicles were deployed.
The new Turkish post is close to the frontlines with regime forces in western Aleppo countryside.
According to SOHR statistics, the number of Turkish posts in the “de-escalation zone” has reached 76 posts, and they are as follows: (1) Salwah, (2) Qalaat Samaan, (3) Sheikh Oqail, (4) Tallat Al-Eis, (5) Tallat Al-Tuqan, (6) Sarman, (7) Jabal Anadan, (8) Al-Zaytunah, (9) Qoqfin, (10) the southern Al-Rashideen, (11) Shir Mghar, (12) Ishtabrak as well as other posts recently set up in (13) Anadan, (14) Al-Rashideen, (15) Maar Hattat, (16) Saraqeb, (17) Al-Tarnabah, (18) Al-Nayrab, (19) Al-Mughir, (20) Qumaynas, (21) Sarmin, (22) Taftanaz, (23) Maarrat Al-Na’san, (24) Maarrat Masrin, (25) Al-Jinah, (26) Kafr Karmin, (27) Al-Tawwamah, (28) the 111th Regiment, (29) Al-Mastumah camp, (30) Tramnin, (31) Al-Atarib and (32) Darat Izza, (33) Bardaqli, (34) Nahlaya, (35) Mu’taram, (36) Basnqul, (37) Al-Nabi Ayyoub, (38) Bazabur, (39) Batabu, (40) Kafr Nuran, (41) Ram Hamadan, and (42) Al-Jinah, (43) Besanqoul, (44) Al-Mshirfa, (45) Tal Khattab, (46) Bdama, (47) Al-Najiya, (48) Al-Za’iniya, (49) Al-Ghassaniyah and (50) Al-Kufayr, (51) Bernas, (52) Bdama, (53) Ariha, (54) Jannat Al-Qura, (55) Bsames, (56) Nabi Ayoub hill, (57) Al-Qiyasat, (58) an area near Basanqoul, (59) Marayan, (60) Ma’ratah, (61) Mantaf, (62) Freka, (63) Tel Sheikh Tammam and (64) Al-Jineh, (65) Tal Arqam, (66) Muhambel, (67) Al-Naby Ayoup, (68) Mntaf, (69) Muhambal, (70) Tal Arqam, (71) Quqfeen, (72) Al-Ruwayha, (73) Kansafra, (74) Kaddura and (75) Al-Wasta.