Strategic Turkmen territory falls into hands of Russian-backed Syrian army
Syria's regime troops, backed by Russian air cover, captured Turkmen Mountain in northeast of the government's strongold of Latakia late Thursday.
Troops loyal to the Assad regime and its allies had taken total control in Kızıldağ, a key part of traditional home of the Syrian Turkmen community in December 2015. When it fell, the predominantly Turkmen area entered the range of Assad's forces as a whole.
Assad's forces later seized the villages of Ağcabayır, Murtlu, Sarraf, Çümeren, Burç, Karacagız, İsa Pınarı and Karamanlı the after fall of Kızıldağ, which overlooks the Turkmen region.
With the last assault, Turkmen armed groups lost full control of the besieged area. Some Turkmen opposition groups withdrew to the Turkish side of the border with Syria while some others retreated from their positions to the east. Over the past four days, more than 50 Turkmen fighters were killed and 86 others, including civilians, were injured.
Since last December, thousands of Syrian Turkmens have fled Bayır Bucak region and found shelter in Turkey after escalation of Russia-backed regime strikes.
The latest victory of government forces has reportedly sparked a new migration wave from Yamadi region. Displaced civilians who spent winter months in refugee camps began to flee to the east in the wake of the advance by the regime.
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