Turkey’s presence in Syria | Turkish forces stationed in 49 bases and tens of sub-posts in “de-escalation zone”
SOHR activists have reported that seven brigades of Turkish forces are deployed in 49 bases in the “de-escalation zone,” they are distributed as follows:
- 13 bases in the western countryside of Aleppo.
- 30 bases in Idlib countryside: 11 in the eastern countryside, 13 in the southern countryside and six in the western countryside.
- Three bases in Hama.
- Three bases in Latakia.
In addition, dozens of posts affiliated to these bases are located nearby the major bases with the aim of securing logistical support provided to Turkish forces stationed in that region.
It is worth noting that every brigade comprises 1,500 soldiers with full materiel, with a total of 10,500 Turkish soldiers being stationed in “Putin-Erdogan” area.
Every military base in the region hosts tens or hundreds of soldiers affiliated to different disciplines, such as engineering, special units, artillery units, missile units, communication and signal experts, backed by artillery pieces, tanks, armoured vehicles, anti-aircraft systems and mine sweepers, while every base contains a telecommunication tower of a Turkish mobile network.
It is worth noting that 200 tanks, 400 armoured vehicles, 800 armoured personnel carriers and tens of trucks and four-wheel drive vehicles (4×4) are stationed in every Turkish base in the “de-escalation zone.”
Turkish forces are stationed in nearly 25 bases to the south of Aleppo-Latakia highway “M4,” they are located in the following villages: Nahla, Jabal Al-Arba’in, Al-Ruwayha, Bayanin, Shenan, Tel Nabi Ayyoub, Kansafrah, Al-Bara Balyoun, Qoqfeen, Ma’rata, Sighatha, Kherbet Al-Naqous, Qastoun, Al-Kabinah hills, Tel Al-Haddadah, Ishtabraq, Al-Kufair, Al-Najiyah, Majdaliyah, Ma’arbaleet, Kaddourah and Al-Nayrab.
Accordingly, more than the half of Turkish troops in this region are stationed along and to the south of M4 highway.
Turkish military bases in the “de-escalation zone” are distributed regionally as follows:
- Aleppo: 13 bases are located in the villages and towns of Kafr Nouran, Kotayban, Abbin, Al-Atarib, Taqad, Deir Sam’aan, the 111th Regiment, Jabal Barakat, Al-Ibzimu, Kafr Karmeen, Kafr Naseh and Jabal Salwah in the southern countryside of Aleppo.
- Idlib: 30 bases are located in Taftnaz airbase and the villages of Afes, Majarz, Al-Salihiya, Binnish, Tel Sandal, Sarmin, Maarrat Alyam, Al-Nayrab, Majdaliya, Maarbalit and Kaddourah in the eastern countryside, Al-Mastoumah, Nahliya, Jabal Al-Arba’in, Al-Ruwayha, Bayanin, Shenan, Tel Nabi Ayyoub, Kansafrah, Al-Bara Balyoun, Qoqfeen, Ma’rata and Sighatha in the southern countryside, Ishtabraq, Frikah, Al-Kufair, Jannat Al-Qura, Ain Al-Baydah and Al-Najiyah in the western countryside.
- Hama: Three bases are located in Qastoun, Kherbet Al-Naqous and Al-Qarqour in the western countryside.
- Latakia: Three bases are located in Kabanah, Tel Al-Haddadah and Al-Zaytounah.