Turkish army suffers heavy losses in battles in northern Syria

DAMASCUS, Dec. 13 (YPA) – Fierce battles are being continued for the fifth consecutive day between the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Turkish-backed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham factions in several areas of northern Syria.

The SDF-affiliated Manbij Military Council reported on Friday that its members were able to kill more than 210 armed factions affiliated with the Turkish forces on Tishreen Dam and Qarqozak Bridge in the eastern countryside of Aleppo and the Kobani area.

The council affirmed in a statement that about 39 military vehicles and 6 tanks belonging to the Turkish army were destroyed in addition to 5 suicide planes were shot down.

In another context, armed factions led by the so-called “National Army” in Syria, supported by Turkey, launched a military operation 5 days ago, which they said aimed to control the city of Manbij in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo.

The escalation of violence and fighting between armed factions in northern Syria comes despite the factions ruling Syria announcing a 4-day military truce last Wednesday under US sponsorship.

AA