BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:30 A.M.) – The Turkish Army and their allied rebel forces launched, Saturday, a new offensive in the northern countryside of the Aleppo Governorate.
Targeting two towns controlled by the Kurdish-led People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Afrin Liberation Forces, the Turkish Army and Free Syrian Army stormed the area in an effort to overpower the enemy.
The Turkish Army and FSA troops were able to capture the towns of Al-Malkiyah and Maraanaz after the YPG and ALF temporarily retreated south towards the key town of Tal Rifa’at.
However, their success would be short lived, as the YPG and ALF were able to force the Turkish military and FSA troops to retreat back towards the city of Azaz in the northern countryside of Aleppo.
Following their retreat, the Turkish Armed Forces and FSA began heavily shelling the area in a bid to prevent the ALF and YPG from reentering the towns.
Despite the intensity of the Turkish bombardment, the ALF and YPG were able to regain control of the two towns by nightfall on Saturday.
The Turkish Armed Forces are still pounding the area with rockets and artillery shells, with some of the projectiles going as far south as the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) held territories in northern Aleppo.
