On April 2, two Syrian service members were killed and five others were injured in a Turkish artillery strike on a Syrian Arab Army (SAA) checkpoint in the northeastern governorate of al-Hasakah.
According to the Hawar News Agency (ANHA), the strike targeted ‘Abush checkpoint, located near the town of Tell Tamr in northern al-Hasakah. One of the casualties was an SAA Captain, while the other was a Private.
The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) confirmed the incident, saying “two martyrs fell in an aggression by the Turkish occupation and its terrorist mercenaries.”
Click to see full-size image. Source: hawarnews.com
Click to see full-size image. Source: hawarnews.com
Last year, the SAA established a series of positions in northeast Syria following a breakthrough agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The deployment of the army put an end to a Turkish-led attack on the region.
The Turkish artillery strike on ‘Abush checkpoint is a violation of the ceasefire in northeast Syria, which Ankara agreed to in two separate agreements with Russia and the U.S. This violation could lead to a new round of escalation in the region.
The northwestern region of Syria, mainly Greater Idlib, is witnessing similar tension between Turkish and Syrian forces. A day earlier the Turkish military reportedly aired a threat to the Syrian troops in region.
