SOHR: Russia targets Turkish-backed rebels in Aleppo countryside
The Russian Air Force carried out an airstrike on 29 May on the Syrian town of Marea in the northern countryside of Aleppo, targeting Turkish-backed militants belonging to the Euphrates Shield rebel group, according to local media.
At the same time, Syrian Arab Army (SAA) reinforcements arrived at the Menagh military airport in the Aleppo countryside as Russians planes made flights over the cities of Al-Bab, Azaz and Afrin.
This coincides with reports of large explosions near the US base in the Al-Omar oilfield, which is illegally occupied by US forces.
On 27 May, Russian forces carried out airstrikes against positions held by Turkish-backed armed groups on the Syrian-Turkish border for the first time since the start of their operations in Syria.
Hours before this operation was carried out, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reaffirmed his country’s support for the government in Damascus.
“The existence of Russian forces in Syria is in full compliance with UN principles and its charter, and the forces perform duties outlined in Resolution 2254,” Lavrov told RT during an interview on 26 May.
Meanwhile, Turkish occupation forces have intensified their bombing campaign over the northwestern countryside of Hasakah governorate, as part of their latest military operation in northern Syria which was announced on 23 May.
“A huge Turkish reconnaissance plane flew over the countryside of Tal Tamr and Abu Rasin (Zarkan) in the Hasakah countryside… The shelling targeted the villages of Tal al-Ward, Khirbet Shaer, al-Kawziyah, al-Ghaybish, Sukkar Hamir, Tawila, Tal Juma’a and Tel Kifji,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported.
According to the SOHR, a member of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) was injured in the Turkish strikes, which also resulted in the outbreak of fires and the destruction of civilian infrastructure.
Earlier this month, the media office of the Peoples Defense Units (YPG), an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), reported that Turkish drones directly targeted a civilian house in Kobani, northern Syria, killing prominent public figure Ekrem Ostek.
Along with its support for extremist groups, Ankara has carried out a series of inhumane attacks since the beginning of their involvement in the war in Syria in 2016, which have increased significantly in recent months.
Source: CSM