Turkey deports 425 Syrian, Iraqi refugees to Syria
TEL ABYAD / IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – On Tuesday, Turkish authorities intensified their campaign to forcibly deport Syrians towards northern Syrian areas. The number of deportees in the past 24 hours exceeded 425 refugees, including Iraqis.
A private source informed North Press that the Turkish authorities handed over more than 160 refugees, including 35 women with their children, to Military Police, affiliated with the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka Syrian National Army (SNA), through Tel Abyad crossing north of Raqqa Governorate, northern Syria.
The source added that 265 refugees, including more than 51 women with their children, were also deported towards areas under the influence of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front) in Idlib, through Bab al-Hawa crossing.
The source further stated that the deportation process took place after obtaining all the identification documents and biometric data of the deportees to prevent their permanent return.
The deportees’ relatives residing inside Turkey were not informed about the deportation of their loved ones, according to the source.
Exclusive sources told North Press that the number of Syrian deportees through the Tel Abyad, Bab al-Salama, and Bab al-Hawa crossings in northern Syria has exceeded 13,500 people during August, with expectations of an increase in the next month.