Syrian regime forces intensify shelling of Turkmen regions

Sebati Karakurt – HATAY

AA photo

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces have intensified the shelling of Kızıldağ, a strategic point in northwestern Syria controlled by Turkmen forces, daily Hürriyet has reported.

Regime forces had made significant progress around Turkmen Mountain and its environs during clashes over the last 12 days before eventually facing Turkmen resistance just in front of the Turkish border.

However, al-Assad’s forces, who retreated to the Kessab hillsides, continued their uninterrupted shelling of Kızıldağ on Turkmen Mountain on Nov. 25.

Intensive attacks in Jabal al-Akrad, a neighborhood of Turkmen villages, were also ongoing, according to local sources.

Emrah Çelik, a 27-year-old district organization member of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in northwestern Tekirdağ province who joined the Turkmen forces voluntarily, said the 2nd Coastal Division has been fighting against regime forces for the last seven months.

“We are defending Turkmen Mountain and our region against powerful countries, al-Assad, who has the backing of Russia and Iran, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [ISIL] and the Democratic Union Party [PYD], despite all impossibilities under harsh conditions. Turkey has always been accompanying us. We are staying up all night in tents and at positions. Despite all the tough conditions, Turkmen Mountain will not fall and, God willing, Turkmens will be victorious. We are also handing out aid to the locals. Our priority is the peace and comfort of our people,” said Çelik.