Turkey shells 19 settlements in northern Syria, killing 3 servicemen

At least 19 settlements in Syria’s Aleppo province were shelled by Turkish forces Monday. According to the Firat News Agency, Turkish forces fired 545 shells. The shelling hit a Syrian forces outpost, killing three soldiers.

Five more Syrian government servicemen were killed on Sunday. Overall, Syrian forces lost a total of 22 servicemen since the beginning of Turkey’s Operation Claw-Sword. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) lost 35 fighters.

Earlier, the Syrian military command relocated forces and 20 armored vehicles to Aleppo in order to repel a potential Turkish invasion. The government forces occupied positions in Manbij, Tell-Rifaat and Ayn-al-Arab districts, currently controlled by Kurdish forces.

Meanwhile, several convoys with weapons and ammunition were moved through the Bab al-Salam checkpoint to the Ankara-controlled security zone in northern Syria, according to Al Akhbar. Opposition sources told the newspaper that pro-Turkish militias deployed in Azaz, Jarabulus and Al Bab districts were put on high alert.