Kurdish Militia Fortify Positions in Northeastern Syria to Counter Turkish Threats

The Kurdish militia that dug long tunnels and trenches a couple of days ago to counter Turkish Army threats in Northern Raqqa have embarked on connecting their positions via tunnels to boost their defense capabilities, field sources reported on Wednesday.

The sources said that the Kurds dug a very long tunnel connecting 17th Brigade Base North of Raqqa city to al-Banat Plain region in the Northeastern part of the city.

The sources further said that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) started digging tunnels 4 meters wide and three meters high a few days ago to connect the Brigade to al-Banat Plain.

They went on to say that the SDF also boosted defense capabilities of the base by erecting cement walls around its buildings and posts.

Turkey has threatened to kick off a large-scale military operation on the Eastern banks of the Euphrates River in Syria.

The Arabic-language al-Watan daily reported on Monday that the Kurdish units built more bunkers, dug more tunnels and reinvigorated their posts and positions in several districts in the town of Tal Abyadh in Northern Raqqa and at border with Turkey.

The daily went on to say that the Kurds dug long tunnels and trenches from East of Tal Abyadh up to a Power Plant Southwest of the town, adding that the Kurds also dug long tunnels and tranches between al-Toweihanah region and the village of al-Mantabah near the border with Turkey and also between al-Mantabah and the Old Gate in al-Sakhani neighborhood.

The daily further said that the Kurdish move came after the Turkish army boosted its military presence in Ankara-occupied region, adding that the Kurds also are worried about a plan of the US forces to leave them alone in the war against the Ankara forces.

The Turkish army had announced that it was mulling to kick off a large-scale operation on the Eastern bank of the Euphrates River in Northeastern Syria.