The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) established on December 6 new posts in the northern al-Hasakah countryside, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
“Syrian Arab Army units established new positions on the international [M4] al-Hasakah-Aleppo highway near Lilyan, west of [the town of] Tell Tamr,” the state-run news agency’s reporter in al-Hasakah said.
A few hours after establishing the positions, militants of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) attacked SAA troops. The attack was immediately repelled, according to the Syrian state TV.
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The SAA has been working with the Russian Military Police and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to secure the M4 highway, which links al-Hasakah, Raqqa and Aleppo.
In the upcoming few days, the army is expected to enter the key town of al-Mabrukah near the highway as a part of a recent Russian-Turkish agreement. Turkish-backed militants have already withdrawn from the town’s electricity substation.
Securing the M4 is critical for the stability of Syria’s northeastern region. Once completely secured, the highway will become a separation line between Turkish-backed militants and Kurdish forces in the region.
