Turkey’s threats contribute to extremist groups’ return in Syria
TABQA, Syria (North Press) – Tribal leaders in the city of Tabqa, northern Syria, said Thursday that Turkish threats to invade northern Syria will pave the way for the return of extremist groups, threatening security and stability of the region once again.
On May 23, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed his threats to launch a military operation on northern Syria, to complete the so-called remained portions of “safe zone” plan along Turkey’s southern border.
On June 2, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander in Chief Mazloum Abdi tweeted, “We are concerned about new Turkish threats which pose high risk on northern Syria. Any offensive will divide Syrians, create a new humanitarian crisis, and displace original inhabitants and IDPs. New escalation will also negatively affect our campaign against ISIS.”
Jamal al-Nhetar, leader of al-Wahhab tribe in Tabqa, said that the Turkish threats would revive the extremist organizations in the area, urging them to commit new human right violations against the residents.
Al-Nhetar added that the residents of the area in general are afraid of the return of these groups in light of the Turkish threats to attack the region.
The extremists’ return particularly the Islamic State organization (ISIS), which previously committed the most heinous violations in the region, would be in Turkey’s favor, he added.
Hassan al-Khamri, leader of al-Nasser tribe in Tabqa, said that the Turkish incursion into the areas of northern Syria is a clear sign of changing the region’s demography.
This project is nothing but only a step towards achieving Turkey’s ambitions and has nothing to do with Erdogan’s claims to settle the Syrian refugees, al-Khamri beleives.
In early May, Erdogan announced that preparations were underway for a project to return about one million Syrian refugees in Turkey to the safe zone in northern Syria.
The Turkish “safe zone” is an area of 30-35 km (19-22 miles) deep into Syrian territory that Turkey started establishing in 2019 to house Syrian refugees in an area along its border with Syria, as well as to keep it free from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which it regards as terrorists.
Turkish threats, settlement construction, and the return of refugees are common interests that serve ambitions of several countries, including Turkey, and complicate the Syrian crisis, where these countries seek to achieve their political interests at the expense of the people and the Syrian soil, he further explained.
Al-Khamri called on the UN and human rights organizations to curb Erdogan, take firm stances, and stop displacing people and building settlements.
Abdurrahman al-Jadoo, al-Naeem Tribe leader in Tabqa, voiced concern that the Turkish threats against northeastern Syria will allow terrorist groups and mercenaries to sneak into the area.
Al-Jadoo demanded that the guarantor forces in Syria [Russian and the US] and the UN take a firm stance towards the Turkish threats and stop the continuous attacks and violations against northern Syria.
He added that Turkey tries to terrify and displace the residents to control the area.