Russian warplanes renewed on Monday their raids on de-escalation areas in northwestern Syria as Syrian regime forces targeted Turkish military positions in the countryside of the northern Aleppo governorate for the second day in a row, causing casualties among their troops.
“On the morning of Monday, March 28, Russian warplanes carried out four air raids with high-explosive vacuum missiles on the vicinity of Maarrat al-Naasan area in the southwestern countryside of Aleppo. No casualties nor material losses were reported,” said local activist Adham al-Halabi.
“This was accompanied by intense artillery shelling on the same area and took place in conjunction with three Russian reconnaissance planes roaming the skies of the de-escalation zone,” added al-Halabi, noting that the air activity had spurred civilian fears about further escalation.
These air strikes on opposition areas in northwestern Syria are the first since the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine on February 24.
“For the second day in a row, regime forces and Iranian militias used artillery shells and guided missiles to target Turkish military bases in the countryside of Aleppo,” added al-Halabi, revealing that the targeted Turkish military base was located in the Mukalbees and Sheikh Suleiman area near the city of Darat Izza, west of Aleppo.
Two members of the Turkish forces were injured.
The attack comes a few hours after the targeting of a Turkish military vehicle, with a guided missile, by the regime forces and pro-Iranian militias stationed in the 46th Regiment near the city of Atarib.
The assault wounded three Turkish soldiers, including an officer.
The injured were transferred to Turkish territory.
“Everyone knows that the regime cannot carry out any military action, no matter how small, without Russian orders and supervision,” said Colonel Mustafa al-Bakour, a defected officer from the regime forces.
