Image source: topwar.ru
As part of the containment of Turkish expansion in northern Syria, the Syrian army, with the involvement of Kurdish gunners and special forces units, conducted a large-scale exercise to force water barriers in the Aleppo area.
As part of the exercises, the joint forces erected pontoon crossings and carried out the transfer of infantry and tank units under massive fire from a simulated enemy. Syrian tankers, trained by Russian instructors, carried out a successful underwater crossing of the river. Then, according to the scenario of the operation, with the support of aviation and Kurdish artillery, the tanks attacked the imaginary enemy. At the same time, the air defense forces worked out the destruction of drones.
Earlier, Ankara announced that it was ready to conduct a military operation in northern Syria against Kurdish armed groups united in the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist organization in Turkey. The main goal of the Turkish army is to establish control over the cities of Tall Rifat and Manbij. At the same time, the Turkish Security Council claims that the military operation does not threaten the territorial integrity of neighboring countries, it is aimed only at ensuring national security.
Interestingly, just a few days ago, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey is ready to support the official Syrian authorities against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Damascus does not recognize the SDF's control over the northeast of Syria, but in the past has cooperated with them against Turkey and Syrian opposition groups.
At the recent summit of the Presidents of Russia, Iran and Turkey, issues of stabilizing the peace process in Syria within the framework of the Astana format were also discussed. It is believed that Moscow and Tehran do not support Ankara's plans to conduct a military operation in northern Syria. However, the official reports on the results of the meeting on this topic do not say anything.
It can be assumed that Russia has not changed its position on the inadmissibility of violation of the sovereignty of the SAR by third countries. Most likely, having received the appropriate signal from Moscow, the Syrian army decided to hold the first joint exercises with the Kurds in order to warn Ankara about the inadmissibility of rash steps.
