Turkish Troops Carry Out One-Sided Patrols Along Aleppo-Latakia Road

Turkish military vehicles are seen on the Turkish-Syrian border before a joint Turkish-Russian patrol in northeast Syria, near the Turkish town of Kiziltepe in Mardin province, Turkey, November 1, 2019. Turkish Defense Ministry/Handout via REUTERS
Turkish military vehicles are seen on the Turkish-Syrian border before a joint Turkish-Russian patrol in northeast Syria, near the Turkish town of Kiziltepe in Mardin province, Turkey, November 1, 2019. Turkish Defense Ministry/Handout via REUTERS
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Turkish Troops Carry Out One-Sided Patrols Along Aleppo-Latakia Road

Turkish military vehicles are seen on the Turkish-Syrian border before a joint Turkish-Russian patrol in northeast Syria, near the Turkish town of Kiziltepe in Mardin province, Turkey, November 1, 2019. Turkish Defense Ministry/Handout via REUTERS
Turkish military vehicles are seen on the Turkish-Syrian border before a joint Turkish-Russian patrol in northeast Syria, near the Turkish town of Kiziltepe in Mardin province, Turkey, November 1, 2019. Turkish Defense Ministry/Handout via REUTERS

Turkish troops patrolled single-handedly along the Aleppo-Latakia international highway (M4) on Wednesday, starting from Saraqeb city to Musaybin village, east of the Syrian province of Idlib.

This is the seventh patrol of its kind on the highway since March 15, when the Russian-Turkish agreement on carrying out joint military patrols became effective.

In the meantime, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) monitored artillery shelling by factions loyal to Turkey, targeting the village of Qzaali in Tal Abyad's countryside.

No casualties have been reported to date. They also shelled positions of the Syria Democratic Forces in the western areas of Tal Abyad city ‎north of Raqqa.

Two days ago, unknown gunmen booby-trapped Al-Kufayr bridge on M4, west of Jisr Al-Shughur village, in a clear rejection of the Turkey-Russia deal, said the SOHR.

Also Wednesday, During "Operation Peace Spring," Turkish security forces found 760.5 kilograms of explosives and a large cache of ammunition at a house in Tal Abyad, which was still under construction.

A five-meter deep tunnel was also found under the house. Four suspects were taken into custody in the operation.

Moreover, the Civil Administration of Services in Idlib announced hammering a deal with a private Turkish company to supply the province with electricity.

The administration affirmed that work was underway to set up a new line from the Turkish border to the nearest station in Idlib so that power is gradually restored to all regions.

For the past years, residents of Idlib and its countryside have suffered from electricity cuts because most stations went out of service after coming under attack from Syrian regime forces.



US Says Committed to 'Diplomatic Resolution' in Lebanon

FILE - Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks in Greenwich, London, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)
FILE - Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks in Greenwich, London, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)
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US Says Committed to 'Diplomatic Resolution' in Lebanon

FILE - Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks in Greenwich, London, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)
FILE - Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks in Greenwich, London, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stressed that the United States was dedicated to a diplomatic resolution in Lebanon and urged Israel to improve "dire" conditions in Gaza, in a call Saturday with his Israeli counterpart.

Austin "reiterated US commitment to a diplomatic resolution in Lebanon that allows Israeli and Lebanese civilians to return safely to their homes on both sides of the border" in his call with Israel Katz, according to a Pentagon spokesperson.

Austin also "urged the Government of Israel to continue to take steps to improve the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza and emphasized the US commitment to securing the release of all hostages, including US citizens."

Lebanon said Saturday that an Israeli air strike in the heart of Beirut that brought down a residential building and jolted residents across the city killed at least 11 people.

Israel stepped up its campaign against the Hezbollah militant group in late September, targeting its strongholds in Lebanon.

Lebanon's health ministry says at least 3,645 people have been killed since October 2023, when Hezbollah began trading fire with Israel in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas.

The United Nations and others have repeatedly decried humanitarian conditions, particularly in northern Gaza, where Israel said Friday it had killed two commanders involved in Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack.

In the call with Katz, Austin also discussed ongoing Israeli operations and reaffirmed Washington's "ironclad commitment to Israel's security," the Pentagon said.