The Oğulpınar village in Reyhanlı district has been turned into military quarters by the Turkish army. The Turkish army has done so for the Idlib operation and they have set up several checkpoints both along the border line and on Antakya-Reyhanlı road.
Reports say Al Nusra and individuals from other armed groups are kept ready at the Hatay border and will be crossed into Syria on the Turkish army’s orders.
Following President Tayyip Erdoğan’s comments of “We won’t allow for a second Kobanê”, the Turkish army entered Idlib on October 12. The center of the Idlib operation is Reyhanlı, and the district has police, soldiers and intelligence agents positioned throughout.
SEARCH POINTS AND HEADQUARTERS
There are checkpoints set up every 10 km on the road from Antakya to Reyhanlı. Armored vehicles are stationed at these checkpoints and the Gendarmerie Special Operations (JÖH) and Police Special Operations (PÖH) units conduct detailed searches on all the vehicles and the people passing through. IDs are checked through the General Information Gathering (GBT) system. There is a visible blockade in the district center. Regular crossings continue at the Cilvegöz Border Gate.
As frequent military dispatching to the Hatay border continues, the Oğulpınar village right on the border in the Reyhanlı district has been turned into the central headquarters of the Idlib operation. Turkish soldiers leave from the Oğulpınar Border outpost and cross into Idlib. The Hatay Governorate has ordered journalists to be kept away from the border line and the surroundings of the outpost. The T-122 Multiple-Launch Rocket Systems were positioned across the border from both Idlib and Efrîn. The soldiers entering Idlib first stationed at points close to Efrîn but are expected to settle in over 10 positions during the transfer from the north to the south of Idlib.
GANGS KEPT READY AT THE BORDER
Turkish soldiers have been stationed in the northern part of Idlib acting together with Heyet Tahrir Al Sham (HTS) and other groups allied with Al Nusra. Some individuals from Al Nusra and other armed groups are kept ready along the border line and will be crossed into Syria at the Turkish army’s orders.
THEY AIM TO ATTACK EFRÎN
A Syrian man pointed to Turkey placing several groups into Idlib and thus settling in there, and said: “Turkey was already on the field. They supported Al Nusra and other groups and protected them there. Now they want to enter Idlib against Kurds and invade Efrîn. They somehow want to take the Mediterranean line under control as well. The armed groups Turkey supports may attack Efrîn with heavy weapons in the near future.”
