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More than one hundred fighters from the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were killed in northern Syria over the last few days, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on January 5.
The clashes took place in the eastern Aleppo countryside, mainly close to the towns of Hajj Hussein, al-Sa’ideen, Atshana, Aloush, al-Mustaha, in addition to the Tishreen Dam and the Qara Qozak Bridge.
According to the London-based monitoring group, 50 SNA fighters and 12 others from the SDF were killed on January 3, which was the first day of the clashes.
On the second day, an additional 35 fighters of the SNA were killed by the SDF, including a commander from the so-called Sultan Murad Division. Four Kurdish fighters were also killed.
Turkish combat drones and fighter jets provided close air support to the SNA, launching several strikes against the SDF. Most of the group losses were caused by these strikes. Turkish-backed fighters failed to inflict any meaningful losses on the group, despite holding onto their positions.
From its side, the SDF continued to employ FPV suicide drones and other types of armed drones with much success. The targets were not limited to the SNA, as it also included military equipment of the Turkish military. Footage of the strikes were released.
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While the intensity of the clashes have been going up, a large-scale Turkish offensive against the SDF in the eastern Aleppo countryside remains unlikely due to the United States continuous support of the group.
U.S. forces returned to the eastern Aleppo countryside right after the collapse of the Assad regime last month and while the Pentagon denied last week that it was establishing a base near the town of Kobani, a stronghold of the SDF, reinforcements continue to pour into the region.
On January 5, SOHR reported that a large U.S. military supply convoy made up of some 30 trucks headed to Kobani. U.S. warplanes were also spotted over the region.
Coinciding with the clashes in northern Syria, Israel resumed its strikes on the country, targeting bases of the now dissolved Syrian Arab Army.
A massive aerial attack targeted an ammunition depot and a military research facility near the town of Safirah in the southern Aleppo countryside on January 3.
The next day, a strike was reported near the coastal city of Latakia, although it was denied by Syrian authorities.
On January 5, another wave of strikes was reported near Damascus. Hebrew media reported that the target was underground military facilities.
These strikes -more than 490 according to the SOHR- are not only meant to destroy Syria’s remaining military capabilities, but also to pressure the country’s new ruler, the Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. Israel does not appear to be pleased by the terrorist-designated group.
Overall, the instability caused by foreign interventions in Syria, whether it is by Turkey, the U.S. or Israel, will create serious problems and could hinder the recovery process in the country.
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