Alexander Mercouris
The DuranTue, 06 Feb 2018 10:02 UTC
The normally reliable Lebanese news agency Al-Masdar has just reported a bombardment of Turkish military positions in southern Aleppo province by artillery belonging to the Syrian military and/or to Iranian led militia units allied to the Syrian government.The Turkish military are said to have opened fire in response. Casualties from the shelling are reported on the Turkish side.Here is the Al-Masdar
report, which was filed at 7.53 pm Beirut time (5:53 pm GMT)
The Syrian Arab Army or allied paramilitary groups or both have reportedly started shelling the freshly established positions of Turkish forces in the southern countryside of Aleppo province according to both opposition and pro-government sources.
Opposition sources says that Syrian Army and allied Iranian-linked paramilitary groups have unleashed artillery fire onto recently established positions of the Turkish Army in the strategic Al-Eis area of southern Aleppo province.
Pro-government sources report that shelling of Turkish military positions has taken place - even claiming wounded among Turkish ranks - but do not specify whether or not the Syrian Army or allied militias or both are responsible for the attacks.
What is known is that non-Syrian Army pro-government units based opposite the Al-Eis area are mostly Iranian-linked or Iranian (proper) forces.
On a final note, Turkish Army artillery has apparently responded to the attacks with a rocket artillery salvo against government positions around the town of Shugheydilah.
An outright clash between the Syrian and Turkish militaries has been an alarming possibility ever since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011.
For the Russians - who need Turkish cooperation to advance their political goals in Syria, and to bring the war in that country to an end -
this will be especially alarming news.The phone lines from Moscow to Damascus and Ankara will be buzzing, with Russian diplomats anxious
to find out what is going on and looking for ways to bring whatever fighting is underway between Syrian and Turkish forces to an end.
There is a high possibility of an emergency telephone call between Russian President Putin and Turkish President Erdogan in the next few hours, and the Russians - and quite possibly President Putin himself - will be calling Syrian President Assad also.
Comment: Ankara
has announced that Turkish forces have set up a military post southwest of Syria's Aleppo, which is claimed to be its "deepest" position in the northwestern part of Syria under Turkey's agreement on the de-escalation of violence with Russia and Iran.
The footage that has appeared on the web shows a Turkish military convoy of about 50 vehicles allegedly approaching southern Aleppo, closer to the Tahrir al-Sham terrorist group's stronghold.
Reports suggest that among those vehicles were armored personnel carriers (APCs), fuel tankers, mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles (MRAPs) and military trucks.
On February 5, the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) started another attempt to establish an observation post in the militant-held town of Al-Eis, close to positions of the Syrian Arab Army in southern Aleppo. A Turkish military column
entered the area in the morning and reached the area few hours later.
Meanwhile, the Turkish General Staff reported that the TAF had established the fourth observation post in the "de-escalation zone" agreed with Russia and Iran during the Astana talks. The general staff added that Turkish forces had starteed reconnaissance for two additional observation points.
In the evening, some pro-Turkish sources started spreading reports that the TAF and the SAA had engaged each other in a series of artillery duels in the area. However, this was not confirmed by photos or videos.
The Syrian military
has deployed new air defense systems and anti-aircraft missiles to cover frontlines in the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib, Reuters reported on February 5 citing "
a commander in the military alliance fighting in support of President Bashar al-Assad".
Reuters:
"They cover the air space of the Syrian north," the commander told Reuters, describing the deployment as a "message to everyone". The air defences had been sent to frontlines with militants in rural areas of Aleppo and Idlib.
Turkish warplanes have been mounting air strikes against the northwestern Syrian Kurdish region of Afrin, which is part of Aleppo province, as part of a major offensive targeting Syrian Kurdish YPG fighters.
See also:
Crazy night in Syria: Al-Qaeda allows Turkish military convoy through its territory in Syria, Russian and Syrian forces attack the convoy
Comment: Ankara has announced that Turkish forces have set up a military post southwest of Syria's Aleppo, which is claimed to be its "deepest" position in the northwestern part of Syria under Turkey's agreement on the de-escalation of violence with Russia and Iran. On February 5, the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) started another attempt to establish an observation post in the militant-held town of Al-Eis, close to positions of the Syrian Arab Army in southern Aleppo. A Turkish military column entered the area in the morning and reached the area few hours later. The Syrian military has deployed new air defense systems and anti-aircraft missiles to cover frontlines in the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib, Reuters reported on February 5 citing "a commander in the military alliance fighting in support of President Bashar al-Assad". See also: Crazy night in Syria: Al-Qaeda allows Turkish military convoy through its territory in Syria, Russian and Syrian forces attack the convoy