Image: aa.com.tr
On January 12, a high-ranking officer of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) was killed in a series of Turkish artillery strikes on Syria’s northern region.
The strikes targeted an area of the northern Aleppo countryside that is jointly held by the SAA and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). One of the strikes hit an army position near the town of Mayasah, killing the officer, who was identified as Brigadier General Ammar Jawdat Techori, and wounding two other officers and a soldier.
Another artillery strike targeted a position of the SAA in the outskirts of Tatmrash town. At least one soldier was wounded there.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense has not yet commented on the Turkish artillery strikes, which came amid Russian efforts meant to restore ties between Ankara and Damascus.
Last December, the defense ministers and intelligence chiefs of Turkey and Syria held a breakthrough meeting in the Russian capital, Moscow. A more important meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries will reportedly be held in a few days. In addition, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have already voiced his readiness to meet with his Syrian counterpart, President Bashar al-Assad, later this year.
The target of the Turkish artillery strikes on the northern Aleppo countryside was clearly the SDF. The SAA’s positions may have been hit by mistake.
Last year, dozens of SAA service members were killed or wounded in Turkish artillery and air strikes. The army responded only when the strikes were deemed to be deliberate.
The new series of Turkish strikes will not likely have any impact on the rapprochement process between Ankara and Damascus. Both sides appear to be determined to go on with the process to address joint security issues, mainly the threat posed by the SDF and its so-called Autonomous Administration.
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