Turkish army vehicles and military personnel are seen near the Turkish-Syrian border on October 12, 2019. IMAGE: Reuters / Murad Sezer
On July 30, the Turkish military began building three new positions right on the main front line with Syrian government forces in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib.
The new positions are being built between the towns of Mesibin and San in the southern Idlib countryside. The two towns are located just a few kilometers to the west of the government-held town of Saraqib. The towns also overlook the strategic M4 highway, which links the port city of Lattakia with Aleppo city, Syria’s industrial hub.
Earlier this year, the Turkish military established three positions in Greater Idlib. In January, a position was built inside the town of Afes in the southern Idlib countryside. Later in June, a second position was established near the town of Mjdlya, also in the governorate’s southern countryside. In July, a third position was built near the town of Khirbat al-Naqus in the northwestern countryside of Hama.
The Turkish military maintains dozens of bases, camps and fortified positions in Greater Idlib, most of them host heavy weapons like howitzers, multiple rocket launchers and even air-defense systems.
Despite its large military presence in Greater Idlib, Turkey has been doing nothing to enforce the ceasefire agreement on the region which was brokered more than two years ago.
Terrorist groups continue to roam free in Greater Idlib, which is de-facto ruled by al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. These terrorist groups are taking advantage of the protection provided by Turkey to develop their military capabilities and expand their influence inside and outside the region. This situation will not likely change any time soon, as Syrian government forces and their allies don’t appear to be interested in a new confrontation with the Turkish military.
