MESOP : Islamic State steps up precautionary measures against alleged safe-zone north Syria

ARA News – 30 July 2015 – Qamishli, Syria – Militants of the Islamic State group (IS/ISIS) are digging a security trench in the vicinity of the Syrian city of Jarablus on the border with Turkey, local activists reported on Wednesday.

The trench is aimed at securing the radical group’s positions inside the border city. Speaking to ARA News in Jarablus, Mohammed Jarabulsi said that IS radical group started digging a trench around the city of Jarablus weeks ago, adding: “The trench project has reached the western suburb of the city.”“The group is expected to finalize the trench project in a couple of weeks,” the source said. In the meantime, the Turkish security forces intensified security measures on the Syrian border after days of strikes on IS-linked targets in Syria. This comes as Turkey plans to establish a ‘safe-zone’ in northern Syria. On Tuesday, militants of the Islamic State bombed several locations in the city of Maree, which is included in the Turkish-planned safe-zone in Syria. “IS militants also executed dozens of civilians in Maree city in an attempt to terrorize people and oblige them to leave the area,” an eyewitness told ARA News on the condition of anonymity. “The terrorist group is planning to evacuate Maree and turn it into a military zone.”Reporting by: Egid Yousef