The Turkish Armed Forces and Free Syrian Army fighters (backed by Ankara) have completed preparations and are awaiting an order for a new cross-border military operation in northern Syria, Turkey's pro-government Sabah newspaper reported today.

The Turkish military has taken up combat positions around the towns of Tal Rifat and Manbij and is firing artillery at night.

According to the publication, the goals of the military operation, which will be carried out simultaneously in both cities, have already been determined.

It is planned to capture the Tishrin Dam - the largest on the Euphrates River in Syria.

This will solve the problems related to water supply and electricity supply in the Syrian regions, where Ankara carried out Operation Euphrates Shield.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced last month that Turkey would soon launch a new military operation in northern Syria to counter terrorist threats, he said, stemming from the country's southern border.

He added that the goal is to resume efforts to build a 30-kilometer security zone on the Turkish-Syrian border.

Since 2016, Turkey has conducted several major military operations in northern Syria.

The offensives were directed mainly at the US-backed Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Force (NDP).

Meanwhile, the Kurdish news agency Ferat reported today that at least 16 settlements have been shelled by Turkish troops and by Syrian armed opposition militias.

455 shells were fired at settlements located in the areas of Manbij and Ash Shahba, and material damage was inflicted on the houses of civilians, the agency said.

Ten percent of Syrian territory (with a population of 4.4 million) is currently under Turkish control.

US-backed Syrian forces: Turkey's new operation in northern Syria will spark humanitarian crisis