 reported on Friday.){kind=link}
Turkey has sent over 190 military vehicles, including armored personnel carriers, tanks and trucks carrying logistical supplies and ammunition, to northern Syria in the past two weeks, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Friday.
The reinforcements were sent to areas controlled by Turkish-backed factions and Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Idlib and Aleppo provinces, as part of Turkey’s effort to strengthen its presence and prevent large-scale confrontations between Syrian regime forces and opposition groups.
The reinforcements come as HTS prepares for a major offensive against Syrian government-controlled areas in Latakia, Hama, Idlib and Aleppo. Turkey has reportedly rejected HTS’s plans for new military action and warned that it would block any military supplies through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing in northern Idlib.
In response to HTS’s plans, the Syrian regime has also sent reinforcements to the frontlines in Aleppo and Idlib. Turkey has put its forces on high alert and continues to focus its operations on combating the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and preventing new waves of displacement within Syria, according to a Turkish military official.
Meanwhile, Russia has announced plans for the 22nd round of the Astana peace talks to address the Syrian crisis, which will involve key players including Turkey, Russia and Iran. The talks are set to take place after a 10-month pause.