Syrian War Report – November 24, 2016: Turkish Artillery Strikes Syrian Army in Latakia

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The Turkish Armed Forces delivered artillery strikes on Syrian government forces positions in the town of Nawara in the province of Latakia on November 23. The artillery shelling was aimed to assist Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and its allies in clashes with the Syrian army, the National Defense Forces (NDF) and the Syrian marines.

Government forces launched an offensive in northern Latakia November 23 morning in the direction of Al-Tufahiea and Tardeen. However, they have not been able to achieve significant gains against the joint militant forces, supported by Turkey.

Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, Jaysh Al-‘Izza and other moderate oppositioneers made a push on government forces positions near Ma’an and Tal Bizam in northern Hama on November 23. Fighting has been ongoing in the area since then. If Tal Bizam falls into Fatah al-Sham hands, the militants will have a tactical advantage in case of a full-scale advance on Ma’an.

Over 100 members of militant groups, including their top commanders, have been killed in clashes with Syrian government forces in the eastern militant controlled part of Aleppo city since November 22, according to pro-government media outlets and activists. Especially heavy clashes between Jaish al-Fatah militant coalition and government forces took place in the Sheikh Saeed Neighborhood. Militant sources say that the Syrian Arab Air Force has also intensified air raids against militant targets inside the city.

Intense fighting is ongoing between pro-Turkey militant groups, supported by the Turkish Armed Forces, and Kurdish YPG forces in the province of Aleppo. Turkey-led forces attacked YPG units in the villages of Boghaz, Sab Weran, Sheikh Nasir and Yulanli and seized the villages of Barshaya and Jib Al-Dam from them. Turkish airstrikes reportedly hit YPG positions in the town of Arimah that Kurdish forces had seized from ISIS, setting a foothold for advance along the Manbij-al-Bab Highway. Major escalation took place between the YPG and Turkey-led forces after Kurdish forces succeed in preventing pro-Turkey militants from encircling and seizing the key town of al-Bab, controlled by ISIS.

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Daniel Martin

Turkish forces have finally shown their cards, now it’s time filof Syria,Russia and allies to treat them as the terrorists they support and help. First of all Syria should start taking out Turkish artillery positions inside Turkey, that are assisting the terrorists in Latakia and elsewhere and attacking the SAA on it’s own territory. Then all Turkish forces inside Syria should start to be engaged until driven back into Turkey where they belong.

Byzantines

Russia closed their eyes to Turkey invasion.

Jeff Lewin

For the Russians, it is politically convenient to let the Syrians fight this battle. In the bigger picture, if the Turks thought they could get away with striking air bases where the Russian Aerospace Forces are operating, they would pay dearly for such a mistake.

Brad Isherwood

There is Russian counter battery fire radar in country,
Unknown if such is nearby to hit the Turk arty.
An exact cancelling response would speak loudly to the Mad Sultan.
If he moves Armor forward. ….decimate them with ATGMs.

Zak Ultron

LMFAO ! your so Funny ….. Syrian army will get wiped out ! Assad knows this ,

Byzantines

Another one fatal Putin-Lavrov mistake to rapprochement with Turks.Many warned Putin,Turks should ‘ stab in your back’ again,no listen the miserable Lavrov.

Barbarossa296

Putin is trying to pry Turkey from the arms of the EU and NATO. Erdogan is playing NATO and Russia against each other trying to advance Turkey’s own agenda. This isn’t one side against the other – this is multiple sides jockeying for position. The Anglo-American Empire (“The Empire of Chaos”) is trying to play ALL sides against each other as best as it can (“divide and conquer”) and, of course, not doing it very well.

Byzantines

Until now.A Su-24 shot down from Turkey (without retaliation) two Russian officers dead, the Turkey invasion and occupation of N. Syria and now the strikes against S A A. Something wrong for Russia policy in Turkey.

Rodger

Not without retaliation. The Turkish tourism sector is on its ass. It has cost Turkey at least 8 billion Euros directly and much more indirectly. And it is very likely Putin wants Turkey inside Syria for now. Russia cant bomb Turkey, they can bomb Turkish forces in Syria.

Jeff Lewin

The Turks have been escalating this all along, with or without the approval of Washington or Tel Aviv. The Russians have merely looked after the shared interests with Syria–and with great reluctance at that. They have nothing to gain from any further escalation.

John Whitehot

apparently you’re not counting the turkish dead. But of course, george soros does not pay you to do that.

sólyomszem

Then Putin is totally stupid.

Barry

Putin is doing such a good job that Turkish army is literally fighting Russia’s Syrian allies; not by proxy, but rather all out.

Barbarossa296

Putin is trying to pry Turkey from the arms of the EU and NATO. Erdogan is playing NATO and Russia against each other trying to advance Turkey’s own agenda. This isn’t one side against the other – this is multiple sides jockeying for position. The Anglo-American Empire (“The Empire of Chaos”) is trying to play ALL sides against each other as best as it can (“divide and conquer”) and, of course, not doing it very well.

888mladen .

That’s a photo of the colonel Strelkov if I’m not wrong. Appreciate mate. It’s a dangerous game of deception for sure.

888mladen .

RU is definitely slowly but surely building its coalition forces. The Egyptian air force has arrived to Syria and it’s stationed at T4 military airbase ready to strike. It looks to me that RU is buying time by playing friendly to Turkey until Trump takes over the White House and then whole hell will brake loose on Turkey. Trump is not stupid he understands that terrorism in Syria can not be eradicated without containment of Turkey.

S600

Keeping the siege tight and cleaning out rebels certainly diminishes their manpower capacity.

gustavo

Putin is making a big military mistake leaving Turkia to do in Syria whatever it wants to do, even helping terrorists to destroy Syria. I wonder whether Turkia is for USA what Soud Arabi is for USA.

Barry

News today that Syrian AF hit Turkish positions. Must have been in retaliation for supporting Nusra.

kris_hel

Syria can t attack anything within Turkeys borders, it would activate Nato. There are limiteds, building alliances is far more important than short term retaliation. Don t fight to much battles but win yur war.