Damascus Shells South Idlib Lines Amid Turkish Repositioning

A Turkish military convoy in Idlib (AFP)
A Turkish military convoy in Idlib (AFP)
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Damascus Shells South Idlib Lines Amid Turkish Repositioning

A Turkish military convoy in Idlib (AFP)
A Turkish military convoy in Idlib (AFP)

The Syrian regime shelled on Friday areas in Idilb, northwest Syria, while Turkish forces began reinforcing their military positions in the de-escalation zone in the south of the governorate.

Regime forces fired shells on positions in Kafr Oweid, Sfuhen, Fulayfel, Bayanin, the surrounding areas of al-Bara and Kansafrah in the southern countryside of Idlib.

They targeted frontlines in Sahl al-Ghab in the northwestern countryside of Hama with heavy machineguns, but no casualties were reported.

A day earlier, al-Fath al-Mubin operations room destroyed a regime military tank after hitting it with a guided missile in the vicinity of Kafrnobl in the southern countryside of Idlib, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

It added that regime forces heavily shelled the Benin town and its surrounding areas in Jabal al-Zawiya in the southern countryside of Idlib.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Army brought new military reinforcements to the front lines in the villages of Barah and Mansafarah in Jabal al-Zawiyah. A convoy with four tanks and five armored vehicles and trucks carrying logistical materials and soldiers, arrived from the Kfar Lossin crossing in north Idlib to reinforce Turkish military points in the area.

The Observatory also reported the withdrawal of Turkish forces stationed in a school in Ram Hamadan town in northern Idlib, before they repositioned in posts in the town’s eastern part, between Zardana and Ibbin Samaan.

Meanwhile, Turkish forces shelled positions in Mayasah, Sawaghanka, Burj Qas and Kalutah, which are under the control of Kurdish forces in northern Aleppo. No casualties have been reported.

According to the Observatory, the shelling came after one Turkish soldier was killed in Thursday’s attack by Kurdish forces on areas under the control of “Olive Branch” operations room in the northwestern countryside of Aleppo. The shelling also killed a Turkish-backed militiaman and injured other Turkish soldiers.

The Observatory said that Kurdish fighters shelled a position of Turkish forces and their proxy factions in Burj Haidar frontline in north Aleppo countryside. Also, a military vehicle was attacked on the same frontline, killing and wounding several Turkish soldiers and faction members.



UN Chief Slams US-Backed Gaza Aid Operation: ‘It Is Killing People’

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends a press briefing during the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) at the Centre des Expositions conference centre in Nice, France, June 10, 2025. (Reuters)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends a press briefing during the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) at the Centre des Expositions conference centre in Nice, France, June 10, 2025. (Reuters)
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UN Chief Slams US-Backed Gaza Aid Operation: ‘It Is Killing People’

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends a press briefing during the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) at the Centre des Expositions conference centre in Nice, France, June 10, 2025. (Reuters)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends a press briefing during the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) at the Centre des Expositions conference centre in Nice, France, June 10, 2025. (Reuters)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday that a US-backed aid operation in Gaza is "inherently unsafe," giving a blunt assessment: "It is killing people."

Israel and the United States want the UN to work through the controversial new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, but the UN has refused, questioning its neutrality and accusing the distribution model of militarizing aid and forcing displacement.

"Any operation that channels desperate civilians into militarized zones is inherently unsafe. It is killing people," Guterres told reporters.

Guterres said UN-led humanitarian efforts are being "strangled," aid workers themselves are starving and Israel as the occupying power is required to agree to and facilitate aid deliveries into and throughout the Palestinian enclave.

"People are being killed simply trying to feed themselves and their families. The search for food must never be a death sentence," Guterres told reporters.

"It is time to find the political courage for a ceasefire in Gaza."

Since Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza on May 19, allowing limited UN deliveries to resume, the United Nations says more than 400 Palestinians have been killed seeking aid from both the UN and GHF operations. A senior UN official said on Sunday that the majority of those people were trying to reach GHF sites.

Responding to Guterres on Friday, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said Israel’s military never targets civilians and accused the UN of "doing everything it can" to oppose the GHF aid operation.

"In doing so, the UN is aligning itself with Hamas, which is also trying to sabotage the GHF’s humanitarian operations," it posted on X.

A GHF spokesperson said there have been no deaths at or near any of the GHF aid distribution sites.

"It is unfortunate the UN continue to push false information regarding our operations," the GHF spokesperson said. "Bottom line, our aid is getting securely delivered. Instead of bickering and throwing insults from the sidelines, we would welcome the UN and other humanitarian groups to join us and feed the people in Gaza."

GHF uses private US security and logistics firms to operate. It began operations in Gaza on May 26 and said on Friday so far it has given out more than 48 million meals.

The US State Department said on Thursday it had approved $30 million in funding for the GHF and called on other countries to also support the group.

Israel and the United States have accused Hamas of stealing aid from the UN-led operations, which the group denies.