Opposition factions refuse Damascus-Ankara convergence
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – A Turkish-backed armed opposition faction expressed on Thursday its refusal of any convergence with the Syrian government.
Mustafa Bakour, the spokesperson of Jaysh al-Izza (Army of Glory) told North Press that al-Fateh al-Mubin Operations Room refused any convergence with “al-Assad regime”, referring to the Turkish guarantor.
Bakour’s speech came at a time while Russia is seeking to bring closer relations between Ankara and Damascus. This step was interspersed with earlier statements by Turkish officials, about Turkey providing all kinds of political support to the Syrian government regarding facing the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
On July 27, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that his country would provide all kinds of political aid to the Syrian government in terms of driving out “terrorists”.
“We will provide all kinds of political support for the [Syrian] regime’s work in this regard. It is the natural right of the [Syrian] regime to remove the terrorist organization from its territory,” said Cavusoglu in a televised interview with Turkish Channel TV100. These statements angered many leaders of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA).
“Within the framework of the al-Fateh al-Mubin Operations Room, which includes Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Jaysh al-Izza and other opposition factions operating in Idlib, they are following the news reports on a possible convergence between Turkey and al-Assad Regime,” Bakour added.
He pointed out that “The media exaggeration that is taking place aims to affect the morale of the popular incubator of the Syrian revolution and the military factions, ruling out that the idea of convergence between the two states is serious.”
Bakour indicated that “A unified position of the factions could contribute to influencing the Turkish position, especially since the factions refuse any convergence with the Assad regime from any side.”