Idlib – North-Press Agency
Despite the Turkish military's widespread deployment in the de-escalation zone in Idlib, northwestern Syria, and the existence of 12 observation points in several areas there, they have not been of any benefit for the residents of northern Syria, according to jurists and human rights activists who spoke to North-Press.
In October 2017, Turkey announced the establishment of observation points in Idlib within the framework of the agreement signed in September of the same year with Russia and Iran in Astana, which defined its mission to monitor the ceasefire between the Syrian government forces and the Iranian counterparts on the one hand, and the Syrian opposition groups on the other.
Cause of displacement
Muhammad al-Ahmad, a Syrian human rights activist from the Idlib countryside, told North-Press: “The Turkish points provided great services to the Syrian regime, but they have not brought any benefit to the population so far.”
At the end of 2017, Syrian government forces took control of 400 villages and towns east of the railway in Idlib, and on January 21, 2018, they reached Abu al-Zuhour airport. At the same time, the Turkish forces started entering Syria to install lines of contact.
With the government forces taking control of Abu al-Zuhour, Turkey started launching its military operation to take over Afrin. "That is, the operation was clear, which is the abdication of the eastern railway in exchange for Afrin,” according to al-Ahmad.
“At the time, these points were established, and the operation room to defeat the invasion that was formed after the regime's arrival to Abu al-Zuhour prevented them from launching any counterattack. Meanwhile, the Syrian regime was in a state of total collapse on the Eastern Ghouta front, so these forces which were attacking Idlib withdrew to Eastern Ghouta after the regime was sure that the Turkish points would prevent any counterattack.” Al-Ahmad said.
Those forces were devoted to take Eastern Ghouta. After they won the battles to control Ghouta and the northern countryside of Homs, they returned to Idlib and launched battles to take it as well.
On the role of Turkish forces in that region, al-Ahmad said: “The Turkish points did nothing, as they did not play any political or military role to prevent the attacks of the Syrian regime. Their actions were limited to pressuring the opposition to make concessions to the Russians so that the Syrian regime took control of the most important cities and strategic towns in Idlib like Khan Sheikhoun, Maarat al-Numan and Saraqeb.”
Al-Ahmad pointed out that “Turkish statements have always focused on the positive role that those points played, but in fact, we have not seen anything positive so far; we have seen nothing but the displacement of hundreds of thousands from the Idlib countryside.”
Have not fulfilled civilians’ aspirations
On September 17, 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib, separating Syrian military opposition groups from Syrian government forces, with a depth from 15 to 20 km, and joint military patrols in the region.
Media activist Qusay al-Omari, a resident of Idlib countryside, told North-Press: “These points did not exist to fulfill the aspirations of the civilians, but were founded to implement the Sochi and Astana agreements between Russia and Turkey, and behind them the Syrian regime and Iran, despite violations in the mechanism of the implementation of these agreements. Therefore, they did not preserve the areas of southern Idlib and western Aleppo as the residents of these areas aspired to.”
“The work of the Turkish points corresponds to the ability of Turkey militarily and politically against Russia, and not to fulfill aspirations,” he added.
To monitor bombing only
On March 5, Turkey signed an agreement with Russia in the Russian city of Sochi which included a permanent ceasefire in the Idlib area in addition to conducting joint patrols on the Aleppo-Damascus road, also known as the M4 highway.
Abu Leith al-Shemali, who lives on the Syrian-Turkish border and is from the Aleppo countryside, asked: “What are the Turkish points practically watching? Until now, they have provided nothing for the civilians, except to circumvent the Geneva decisions by implementing the Sochi and Astana agreements.”
The first item that should be applied by Turkey after its agreement with Russia regarding Idlib was the return of the displaced to their homes, “but what we saw was the opening of the M4 highway instead of the return of the displaced, which was supposed to be one of Turkey's priorities, and what we see today falls under the broad title of procrastination. What is happening serves the interests of Turkey and not the interests of the revolution,” said al-Shemali.
“Because of those Turkish points, the opposition is constantly required to make concessions. Even the military battles in Khan Sheikhoun and al-Habit were all fictitious. The Syrian regime, with Russian sponsorship, has not retreated a single inch from the areas it took, and therefore the allies of the Syrian regime are more credible, unlike the allies of the opposition groups,” he added.
According to the March 5th Idlib agreement, Syrian government forces were supposed to retreat beyond the Turkish observation points. “Today, it is May, and we have not seen anything on the ground. Therefore, civilians are silent because they are weak, and of conviction,” according to al-Shemali.
At the end of his talk with North-Press, he said that "in earlier periods we had hope for the Turkish points, but not today. People want results on the ground and not just propaganda and parades. In a clearer sense, the Turkish points monitor the bombing and the bombs that are falling on us; this is their role and nothing else.”
Turkey has set up 12 observation points in northern Syria within the de-escalation agreement in Idlib Governorate, distributed in the villages and towns of Salwa, Samaan Castle, Jabal Sheikh Aqil, Anadan, al-Ees, the Southern al-Rashedeen neighborhood in the Aleppo countryside, al-Sorman Silos, Tal-al-Toqan, Ishtarbaq Hill in Idlib countryside, the outskirts of Mork city, Sher-Maghar village in Jabal Shahshabo in the Hama countryside, and in the village of al-Zaytouna in Lattakia's countryside.