Turkey reinforces forces in border areas with Syria

ISTANBUL, Sept 22 (KUNA) -- A new Turkish military convoy reached the border regions with neighboring Syria on Friday beefing up tank-armed troops already deployed in these areas.
Official Anadolu news agency quoted military sources as saying the convoy crossed a Turkish-manned checkpoint and took up positions at locations between it and Bab Al-Hawa passageway farther south.
The force includes armored vehicles and military equipment.
Ankara has recently deployed tank-armed forces in norther Syria close to Idlib, considered one of the de-escalation zones in the country.
Turkey, Russia and Iran have recently agreed on monitoring four low-tension zones in Syria. The Turkish military troop build-up in the border areas also coincided with plans by the Kurds of neighboring Iraq to hold a referendum on separation from the Baghdad leadership, paving way for declaration of the Kurds' aspired independent state, which Ankara vehemently rejects. (end) ta.rk