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Turkish military forces pull out from seven military posts in northwest Syria: Source

Friday, 18 December 2020 11:17 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 19 December 2020 9:55 AM ]

In this file picture, a Syrian boy watches as Turkish military vehicles, part of a US-led military convoy, take part in a joint patrol in a Syrian village on the outskirts of Tal Abyad town. (Photo by AFP)

The Turkish military has evacuated from seven military observation posts in the northwestern part of Syria, withdrawing troops from territory liberated by Syrian government forces to areas held by allied Takfiri militants.

A Turkish source, who requested anonymity, said on Friday that the last of the evacuations was completed the previous night, and the forces were being redeployed within territory controlled by Ankara-backed forces.

Earlier this month, the Turkish forces started withdrawing from three military bases in the countryside of Idlib and Aleppo provinces in northern Syria.

The Turkish forces began pulling out from the Surman base in the eastern countryside of Idlib as well as the bases of Khan Tuman and Rashideen in the countryside of Aleppo on December 9, the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at the time.

The UK-based war monitor added that the Turkish troops would reposition in militant-held areas in the Zawiya Mountain region in the southern countryside of Idlib.

Turkish troops completely pull out of major military base in northwestern Syria

Turkish troops completely withdraw from a military post in northwestern Syria.

Back on November 10, the Turkish troops in northwestern Syria pulled out of a military base in the area that had been surrounded by the Syrian government forces.

The pullout from the observation post in Sher Mogher in northern Hama region came nearly a month after the evacuation of Turkey’s largest military base in the area.

Convoys carrying military personnel and equipment were seen leaving the Morek base shortly after midnight October 20.

On October 9, 2019, Turkey launched a cross-border invasion of northeastern Syria in an attempt to push Kurdish militants affiliated with the so-called People’s Protection Units (YPG) — which Ankara views as a terror outfit — away from its borders.

Two weeks later, Russia and Turkey, signed a memorandum of understanding that forced the YPG militants to withdraw from the Turkish-controlled “safe zone” in northeastern Syria, after which Ankara and Moscow began joint patrols around the area.

Turkish-backed militants attack areas in northeastern Syria

The militants have often launched raids to occupy homes, and steal agricultural machinery.

Turkey has since wrested control of several areas in northern Syria in addition to other Kurdish-controlled areas.

Damascus views the Turkish military presence on Syrian soil as an attack on the Arab country's sovereignty.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk

Turkey Turkey Syria Syria Middle East Middle East Idlib Idlib Aleppo Aleppo Turkish military Turkish military troop withdrawal troop withdrawal turkish troops turkish troops evacuation evacuation