There have been many significant military indications recently that the front in Northern Syria is "reopening".
In a recent article, we pointed out that significant new Turkish reinforcements were being pushed into Idlib, Syria amid a serious military escalation with Assad's forces and the YPG Kurds, including armoured vehicles, tanks and artillery.
The Turkish military convoy entered Syria through the Kafr Lossin border crossing in northern Idlib, and later it was pushed to Turkish outposts in Sarmeen, Banash, Nayrab and Taftanaz in northwestern Syria.
Serious Turkish military escalation in Northern Syria is underway
According to International Media, "The Turkish Defense Ministry said its forces reacted against 14 militants involved in hostile actions within the Operation Euphrates Shield zone in northern Syria.
At the same time, the European Union expanded its sanctions list on Monday to include six individuals and five entities related to the ongoing situation in Syria, Al-Arabiya reported.
More specifically, the January 22 operation targeted individuals involved in aggressive actions against Turkish security personnel.
According to the ministry's statement, the militants involved were part of groups that Turkey considers a security threat. The term "neutralized" used by the Turkish authorities implies that these individuals either surrendered, were captured or were eliminated in the operation.
In response to recent hostile activities, including those affecting Turkish soldiers, Turkey has stepped up security measures against groups in northern Iraq and Syria.
These efforts are aimed at preventing the establishment of hostile territories along its borders and facilitating the safe and peaceful settlement of the local population.
EU sanctions Al Assad supporters and five companies in Syria
The European Union added on Monday six individuals and five entities to its sanctions list in connection with the ongoing situation in Syria, Al-Arabiya reported.
The people include a financial adviser to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, three top businessmen who support and benefit from the regime, and two individuals linked to the al-Assad family.
The five companies sanctioned are Al-Dj Group, Cham Wings, Freebird Travel Agency, Iloma Investment Private JSC and Al-Aqila.
"Some of these entities are involved in the transportation of Syrian mercenaries, arms trafficking, drug trafficking or money laundering in support of the activities of the Syrian regime," the EU said.
These individuals and companies are now subject to freezing of their funds and other financial assets in EU member states, while EU entities are prohibited from making funds and financial resources available to them.
Iran holds funerals for IRGC killed in Israeli attack
Meanwhile, hundreds of mourners gathered in Tehran on Monday for the funerals of the Revolutionary Guards Guards (IRGC) killed in Syria in what Iran called an Israeli strike.
It was the latest incident to heighten regional tensions and fears of a spillover of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
The strike in Damascus on Saturday killed five members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the military said. Iranian media later reported that the victims included the group's intelligence chief for Syria and his deputy.
State media reported that funeral services had been planned for three of the five IRGC members killed.
What Erdogan seeks through Syria
Our assessment is that the Turkish President, with the new major military reinforcements he has pushed into Idlib and the new strikes against the Kurds of the YPG, is attempting to blackmail the US into acquiring the F-16s, threatening to open a new war front in Northern Syria,further complicating the already bad situation in the Middle East. The situation in the Middle East, where Washington is trying to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from spreading beyond the Gaza Strip to southern Lebanon in the first place.
Finally, the new EU economic sanctions against individuals and companies supporting the Assad regime underline the EU's unwavering position of non-acceptance of the Syrian President.
