Syria’s state news agency SANA and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Tuesday that government forces took the villages of Ahras and Misqan in the northern province of Aleppo.
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“There is not going to be a unilateral military operation from Turkey to Syria”, the official remarked, before adding that: “Without a ground operation it is impossible to stop the fighting in Syria”.
Turkey and France have also agreed that the attacks constitute war crimes. The zone is wedged between Kurdish-controlled areas to the east and west. It includes Azaz and Marea, two strongholds of Turkey-backed rebels fighting to topple President Bashar Assad; and Jarablus, al-Bab and Manbij, held by the Islamic State group.
They said dignitaries from northern Aleppo are trying to negotiate an agreement whereby the insurgents would surrender Marea in exchange for a safe corridor to the town of Azaz, near the border with Turkey.
Turkey on Monday accused Russian Federation of an “obvious war crime” after missile attacks in northern Syria killed scores of people, and warned the YPG it would face the “harshest reaction” if it tried to capture a town near the Turkish border. There was no immediate USA response.
“Since the end of the last week Turkey has been delivering massive heavy artillery strikes upon both Syrian government troops and patriotic opposition groups in border districts”, Konashenkov said.
The Russian air force has carried out a campaign of strikes to help the ground offensive by the Syrian army since September.
Turkey said Tuesday it is pressing for ground operations in Syria, hoping for the involvement of the USA and other allies as a force dominated by Kurdish fighters pushed through rebel lines and captured more territory near the Turkish border. “We are discussing this with allies”.
In response to developments in northern Aleppo, Ankara is mulling sending in ground troops with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, ostensibly to go after IS.
The National Hospital, also in Maarat al-Nuaman, was bombed shortly after the strikes on the MSF facility, Amjed al-Idlibi, a first responder with the Civil Defense who worked to extract the dead and wounded, told Syria Direct Tuesday.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for president Vladimir Putin, told reporters this was another case of those who make such accusations against Russian Federation being unable to back up their claims.
The U.N. Syria envoy, Staffan de Mistura, held talks with Syria’s foreign minister on Tuesday aimed at securing a cessation of hostilities and said Damascus had a duty to let the world body bring in humanitarian aid.
Fearing for the existence of his regime, Erdogan is even ready to support extremist groups in Syria.
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According to Turkish security officials, Turkey began shelling positions of the PYD, regarded by the Turkish government as an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
