The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Turkish forces disperse “Al-Karamah sit-in” on M4 by force leaving many casualties

Syrian Observatory activists have confirmed that widespread discontent is prevailing in the area where “Al-Karamah sit-in” is held in the eastern countryside of Idlib on Aleppo-Latakia international highway (M4).

According to SOHR sources, a military group of the Turkish army removed soil barriers on the M4 near Al-Nayrab town in eastern Idlib this dawn. The group also attempted to disperse the sit-in held there, firing tear gas shells, while the protesters responded by pelting Turkish soldiers with stones.

Later, Turkish forces stepped up the use of violence and started live-fire shooting targeting the area where the sit-in was held, leaving two unidentified persons dead. It is not known yet if the victims are civilians or fighters, since there is a nearby military post.

It is noteworthy that Turkish forces seek to disperse the sit-in in order to conduct joint patrols with Russian forces on the M4.

On April 13, SOHR sources reported that a large group of Turkish units stormed the site of a sit-in staged by protesters on the Latakia-Aleppo international road.

According to SOHR sources, dozens of Turkish soldiers stormed that morning a sit-in held by civilians who oppose the agreement between Turkey and Russia. The Turkish troops demolished tents, formed a human wall in front of the protesters and beat some of them.

Gunfire was also heard in the area, while there were no any factions present with Turkish forces during the crackdown on the protest.

The site of this sit-in have been agreed upon a few days ago, and it is located near the village of Tarnaba, east of Idlib.