Turkish army directs guns and tanks towards the city of “Tal Abyad” northen Syria
The Turkish army on Sunday directed field guns and tanks towards the city of “Tal Abyad” in the northern countryside of Raqqa, hours after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the launch of a large-scale battle against SDF sites east of the Euphrates.
The Turkish Yeni Safak newspaper, reported that the Turkish army directed the field guns and tanks stationed in the city of “Agca Kale” on the Syrian-Turkish border towards the city of “Tal Abyad” corresponding to it on the Syrian side and controlled by SDF.
The newspaper said in its report, that the Turkish army intensified its movements and patrols in the border region with Syria, hours after the announcement of “Erdogan” near the military operation against SDF.
It published photographs showing tanks and field guns deployed along the border with Syria, and fortifications and barricades carried out by the Turkish army.
In the same context, media sources pointed out that the SDF cut the satellite Internet from the city of “Tel Abyad” and its countryside completely, in conjunction with the payment of military reinforcements to the border with Turkey.
Turkey is preparing to launch a major battle against SDF positions east of the Euphrates with a view to establishing a safe area completely free of militia elements and weapons, after its political stalemate has been hampered by engaging with the United States in support of SDF.
One other Hand, Factions of the Free Syrian Army have completed preparations for a possible Turkish operation east of the Euphrates River in Syria, according to the Turkish Anadolu news agency on Sunday.
The Agency monitored a training course for the Hamza Division and Sulaiman Shah battalion, in the Afrin area, in which some 2,000 members of the Free Army participated.
The commander of the Hamza division, Saif Abubakar, told Anadolu news agency, that the training course was part of preparations for a possible operation in the area east of the Euphrates.
He pointed out that the elements of the Free Syrian Army, trained during the course, on the techniques of war in the terrain that will face them during the upcoming operation.
He said the exercises included the use of automatic weapons, close combat, street warfare, the preparation of attacks using maps, infiltration and the use of grenades.
He stated that they had completed their training to clear the east of the Euphrates and that they were ready for the operation.
He pointed out that a peaceful area will be established after its clearance.
The Hamza division includes about 6,500 fighters from Arabs, Turkmen and Kurds, according to the agency.
