North of Raqqa | Turkish forces and proxy factions shell villages near M4 road

SOHR sources say that Turkish forces and their proxy factions renewed their ground bombardment on the village of Sayda and the outskirts of Ain Issa, targeting with mortars the village of Ma’alaq and Ain Issa camp near the M4 road, north of Raqqa, but no casualties have been reported so far.

Syrian Observatory activists have reported rocket attacks by Turkish forces and their proxy factions on the SDF-controlled village of Sayda in rural Ain Issa in the northern countryside of Al-Raqqah. No casualties have been reported.

Earlier this morning, SOHR shed light on the strategic importance of Ain Issa district, which could be materialized in its important junction linking between Aleppo and Al-Hasakah, via the international highway “M4” which runs through the district. Ain Issa is also distinguished by its local routes to Tal Abyad city on the Syria-Turkey border and Al-Raqqah city. Such important junction justifies SDF tenacious defence of Ain Issa.

Moreover, the “Autonomous Administration” established large number of civil installations, constructions and affiliated councils, after the International Coalition had set up its military base in 2016.

It is worth noting that SDF, backed by the International Coalition, captured Ain Issa in mid 2015 after fierce clashes against ISIS. Furthermore, Ain Issa, which hosts training camps and important command centres and headquarters of the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) and SDF, is the capital of the “Autonomous Administration” in north-eastern Syria region.

Ain Issa is also the first defense line of Ain Al-Arab (Kobani), Manbij and Al-Raqqah cities, since it is located along key highways and has a key junction linking the areas of Ain Al-Arab, Tal Abyad and Manbij in Aleppo countryside together.