On Wednesday, the Syrian National Army managed to infiltrate and completely destroy a tunnel used by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militia to move around the perimeter of Ain Issa town, in northern Raqqa governorate. The attack formed part of a planned operation. The tunnel allowed fighters to move between their rear military points on the northern outskirts of the village of Sidon, outside Ain Issa.
According to the source, the national army’s infiltrating members were able to kill the tunnel gate guards, and then plant mines and explosive devices inside the tunnel. After that, the troops withdrew to their stations — all without clashing with the SDF militia.
The source confirmed that, after the national army’s soldiers withdrew, SDF was unable to dismantle the mines and explosive devices. This forced the SDF to blow up the entire tunnel, which is 350 meters long and one of SDF’s most important military installations north of Ain Issa.
Read Also: SDF Media Official Killed by Unknown Gunmen in Deir-ez-Zor
In related news, Ain Issa witnessed a security alert for the SDF militia at the town’s entrances and exits. Our correspondent in the area also monitored the arrest of several SDF members, who were trying to flee in a military vehicle to an unknown location outside the town. The SDF members feared repeated shelling by the Turkish army on the primary military points in the area.
Ain Issa and surrounding villages in Raqqa’s rural north witness clashes and shelling almost every day. The attacks occur between the Turkish and Syrian national armies on the one hand, and the SDF militia and Assad’s forces on the other.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.