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.



Israeli Forces Surround Lebanon’s Khiam Ahead of Storming it

Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the village of al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, northern Israel, 22 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the village of al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, northern Israel, 22 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
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Israeli Forces Surround Lebanon’s Khiam Ahead of Storming it

Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the village of al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, northern Israel, 22 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the village of al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, northern Israel, 22 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)

Israeli forces have blocked supply routes to the southern Lebanese border city of al-Khiam ahead of storming it.

They have also surrounded the strategic city with Hezbollah fighters still inside, launching artillery and air attacks against them.

Hezbollah fighters have been holding out in Khiam for 25 days. The capture of the city would be significant and allow Israeli forces easier passage into southern Lebanon.

Field sources said Israeli forces have already entered some neighborhoods of Khiam from its eastern and southern outskirts, expanding their incursion into its northern and eastern sectors to fully capture the city.

They cast doubt on claims that the city has been fully captured, saying fighting is still taking place deeper inside its streets and alleys, citing the ongoing artillery fire and drone and air raids.

Israel has already cut off Hezbollah’s supply routes by seizing control of Bourj al-Mamlouk, Tall al-Nahas and olive groves in al-Qlaa in the Marayoun region. Its forces have also fanned out to the west towards the Litani River.

The troops have set up a “line of fire” spanning at least seven kms around Khiam to deter anti-tank attacks from Hezbollah and to launch artillery, drone and aerial attacks, said the sources.

The intense pressure has forced Hezbollah to resort to suicide drone attacks against Israeli forces.

Hezbollah’s al-Manar television said Israeli forces tried to carry out a new incursion towards Khiam’s northern neighborhoods.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that since Friday night, Israeli forces have been using “all forms of weapons in their attempt to capture Khiam, which Israel views as a strategic gateway through which it can make rapid ground advances.”

It reported an increase in air and artillery attacks in the past two days as the forces try to storm the city.

The troops are trying to advance on Khiam by first surrounding it from all sides under air cover, it continued.

They are also booby-trapping some homes and buildings and then destroying them, similar to what they have done in other southern towns, such as Adeisseh, Yaround, Aitaroun and Mais al-Jabal.

Khiam holds symbolic significance to the Lebanese people because it was the first city liberated following Israel’s implementation of United Nations Security Council 425 on May 25, 2000, that led to its withdrawal from the South in a day that Hezbollah has since declared Liberation Day.