Several media reported that 33 Turkish service members were killed in a Syrian airstrike on the Greater Idlib region on 27 February 2020. Valisi Dogan, governor of the southern Turkish province of Hatay said that many other service members were injured in the Syrian airstrikes. Hatay is the Turkish province bordering Idlib. According to anti-government…
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News and Analyses of events in the Middle East
Situation summary of Syrian battlefield
According to Syrian government sources, the Syrian Army has resumed offensive operations in southern Idlib. That offensive is helping the government forces in liberating several villages. On 22 February 2020, the Ministry of Transport announced that Damascus-Aleppo international M5 highway was officially opened to traffic. Meanwhile, several media reported on 23 February 2020 that the…
Read moreIran’s neighbors shut down borders over coronavirus infection fear
On 23 February 2020, Turkey announced that it would “temporarily” close its land border with Iran as fear grows over an increase of new coronavirus infections. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca told to reporters, “We have decided to shut the land border temporarily after an increase in the number of cases in our neighbor Iran.”…
Read moreErdogan vows to stay in Idlib till the end of ‘violent onslaught’
On 21 February 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey would not withdraw from Idlib Province as long as Syrian government forces continue to press on with their ‘violent onslaught’. He said, “According to the latest data, we have neutralised 150 ‘regime elements’, destroyed 12 tanks, three armoured vehicles, 14 howitzers and two…
Read moreTurkey-backed anti-government forces of Syria launch an operation in Idlib
Backed by Turkish military forces, anti-government forces, on 20 February 2020, has launched an operation against the Syrian government forces in Idlib. Several media have reported that heavy fighting is taking place in the area. Anti-government forces of Syria‚ who are fighting to re-take areas earlier captured by the government forces, entered Nairab town of…
Read moreRussia and Turkey in a standoff in Syria, Erdogan vows for Idlib offensive
According to some media sources, clashes between the Syrian Arab Army and anti-government forces are going on in Idlib Province. On the other hand, Turkey, a NATO partner country, claimed that Syrian government forces broken a ceasefire agreement. It also threatened to launch a military offensive in retaliation in Idlib Province. Meanwhile, on 19 February…
Read moreLatest from Syrian Warfield
According to several media report, the Syrian Army took control of the entire western countryside of Aleppo from anti-government forces. In order to allow civilians to safely leave the anti-government forces held areas, the Syrian army is to open humanitarian corridors in Miznaz and Bjariz. Through another report, geopolits.com came to know that a piece…
Read moreSyrian government forces liberated northwestern Aleppo
On 16 February 2020, Syrian government forces seized a dozen villages and small towns in the country’s northwest against the last major anti-government forces and opposition bastion. They captured 13 villages and small towns north and northwest of the city of Aleppo, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said. On the same day,…
Read moreSettling with Russia may defuse the Turkish quandary over northern Syria
Several media reported that during a speech in the nation’s parliament on 12 February 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Syria that if Turkish soldiers are hit by the Syrian army again, the retaliation will unfurl beyond Idlib. “I announce that we will strike the Syrian forces everywhere starting from today, without being bound to…
Read moreRecent developments in Syria
According to a media report, anti-government forces shot down a Syrian military helicopter near Saraqib in the Syrian province of Idlib. The report said, Hayat Tahrir al-sham shot down a Syrian military helicopter and the episode took place while intense fighting between the Syrian Army and anti-government forces is ongoing. In another development, pro -government…
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