Observatory: Hundreds of Turkish Armored Vehicles Entered Syria

FILE: A Turkish military vehicle drives in the Turkish border town of Ceylanpinar, in Sanliurfa province, Turkey, October 29, 2019. (Reuters)
FILE: A Turkish military vehicle drives in the Turkish border town of Ceylanpinar, in Sanliurfa province, Turkey, October 29, 2019. (Reuters)
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Observatory: Hundreds of Turkish Armored Vehicles Entered Syria

FILE: A Turkish military vehicle drives in the Turkish border town of Ceylanpinar, in Sanliurfa province, Turkey, October 29, 2019. (Reuters)
FILE: A Turkish military vehicle drives in the Turkish border town of Ceylanpinar, in Sanliurfa province, Turkey, October 29, 2019. (Reuters)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that almost 200 Turkish military tanks and armored vehicles have entered Aleppo and Idlib since Sunday morning.

The Observatory said it monitored this morning the entry of a large Turkish military column to the Syrian territory via Kafr Lusin border crossing.

"The column of 40 military vehicles including tanks, personnel carriers, armored vehicles and military and logistical supplies, headed to the south but no information has been reported yet about its destination," it reported.

Meanwhile, Turkish Anadolu Agency said that the Turkish army sent new military reinforcements its units on the border with Syria.

This comes as Syria's regime continues to advance in areas under the opposition factions' control in Idlib and Aleppo.

Earlier, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara is losing patience with the military assault in Syria's Idlib region, adding that Russia is violating agreements that should put an end to violence in Syria, especially in Idlib.

"We will do whatever necessary if these bombardments do not stop,” he stressed.



EU Condemns All Attacks on UN Missions, Foreign Policy Chief Borrell Says

Members of the United Nations peacekeepers (UNIFIL) look at the Lebanese-Israeli border, as they stand on the roof of a watch tower ‏in the town of Marwahin, in southern Lebanon, October 12, 2023. (Reuters)
Members of the United Nations peacekeepers (UNIFIL) look at the Lebanese-Israeli border, as they stand on the roof of a watch tower ‏in the town of Marwahin, in southern Lebanon, October 12, 2023. (Reuters)
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EU Condemns All Attacks on UN Missions, Foreign Policy Chief Borrell Says

Members of the United Nations peacekeepers (UNIFIL) look at the Lebanese-Israeli border, as they stand on the roof of a watch tower ‏in the town of Marwahin, in southern Lebanon, October 12, 2023. (Reuters)
Members of the United Nations peacekeepers (UNIFIL) look at the Lebanese-Israeli border, as they stand on the roof of a watch tower ‏in the town of Marwahin, in southern Lebanon, October 12, 2023. (Reuters)

The European Union condemns all attacks against United Nations missions, the union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a response to targeting of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, by the Israel Defense Forces.

"Such attacks against UN peacekeepers constitute a grave violation of international law and are totally unacceptable. These attacks must stop immediately," Borrell said in a statement on behalf of the EU published Sunday night.

"The EU condemns all attacks against UN missions," Borrell said.

"It expresses particularly grave concern regarding the attacks by the Israeli Defense Forces against UNIFIL, which left several peacekeepers wounded."

Israel has disputed some UN accounts of incidents involving UNIFIL peacekeepers in Lebanon, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they were providing "human shields" for Hezbollah fighters during an upsurge in hostilities.

In his statement, Borrell said "all actors" in the conflict have the obligation to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property.

"We urgently await explanations and a thorough investigation from the Israeli authorities about the attacks against UNIFIL, which plays a fundamental role in the stability of South Lebanon," he said.

The German government sharply criticized the shelling of UN peacekeepers, calling on Israel to clarify what exactly happened.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Office told reporters in Berlin on Monday that "all parties to the conflict, including the Israeli army, are obliged to direct their combat operations exclusively against military targets of the other party to the conflict."

Spokesman Sebastian Fischer said that a comprehensive investigation is expected and that talks on the matter were being held with the Israeli side.

The situation in southern Lebanon is causing growing concern, Fischer added, saying that "the shelling of UN peacekeepers and the intrusion into their bases is in no way acceptable," and that the protection and security of UN troops had top priority.