Turkish Forces, HTS Launch Joint Patrols in Afrin

Arab World

October 16th, 7:49am

Ankara - Saeed Abdul Razzak

Turkish Forces participating in Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria (Anadolu Agency)

The Turkish forces redeployed in Jindires in Afrin and al-Bab city in the northern countryside of Aleppo, within the areas of operations Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield. The areas are under Turkish control along with the factions of the so-called Syrian National Army loyal to Ankara. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that Turkish forces are trying to control matters after their withdrawal from the outskirts of Afrin city. The forces left the area following clashes between the factions in their control areas and the subsequent entry of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) into the region. The HTS military convoy, which was supposed to enter the Euphrates Shield areas, had not yet entered due to the rejection of some members of National Army factions and residents of allowing HTS to enter the site. Under the agreement, HTS withdrew part of its military forces from Afrin to Idlib. The movements of the Turkish forces came after one of its bases near the village of Kafr Jannah in the Sharan district of Afrin countryside was subjected to artillery shelling of unknown origin, injuring several soldiers. The Observatory reported that Turkish forces and armored vehicles roamed Afrin under HTS control and the extensive deployment of its troops there, pointing to the deployment of Turkish special forces at joint checkpoints with HTS at the entrances of Afrin. A cautious calm prevailed in the Afrin region and areas held by Turkish-backed factions in Aleppo's eastern and northern countryside. Clashes erupted between the Third Corps and HTS on the frontlines of the Sharan district of Mashaalah in rural Afrin, northwest Aleppo, burning the "Kortak 1" camp near Mashalah village in Afrin countryside. The clashes occurred after Jaiysh al-Islam, and Third Corps rejected the agreement concluded between "al-Golani" and Abu Yassin, commander of the Third Corps. HTS agreed with the Third Corps for a ceasefire and a complete resolution. The agreement came after thwarting several HTS attempts to advance on the axis of Kafr Jannah and to target the Turkish military point with unknown shells. At the same time, the Turkish forces stationed at the Merimin base in the Sharan district in Afrin shelled Tanab and Abyan villages in the Sherawa district, within the areas of deployment of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the regime forces in the northern Aleppo countryside.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3933786/turkish-forces-hts-launch-joint-patrols-afrin