Turkey deports 110 Syrian, Iraqi refugees to north, NW Syria
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – On Tuesday, Turkish authorities deported over 110 Syrian and Iraqi refugees from their territories to areas under the control of Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka Syrian National Army (SNA) in northern Syria. The deportations took place through Tel Abyad and Bab al-Hawa border crossings.
An exclusive source informed North Press that Turkish authorities handed over around 48 refugees, including 17 Iraqis, to the Turkish-backed Military Police through the Tel Abyad crossing in northern Raqqa Governorate, northern Syria. These individuals are currently undergoing security investigations.
The source added that another 62 Syrian refugees, including 20 women with their children, were deported through the Bab al-Hawa crossing, northwest Syria, by the Turkish authorities towards areas-held by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front) in Idlib Governorate, northwest Syria.
The sources indicated that the deportation process was carried out after collecting their biometric data and fingerprints to prevent their permanent return to Turkish territories. Additionally, their relatives residing within Turkey were not informed about their deportation process.
In late July, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed that “more than 600,000 displaced people have returned to the country.” In May, Erdogan said that Turkey is working on ensuring the “voluntary return” of one million Syrian refugees.
Though Syria is still unsafe for returns, Turkey tries to get rid of the refugees by forcibly deporting them, as the Turkish authorities have intensified the forced deportation of Syrians as part of what they call voluntary return to safe areas in northwestern Syria, according to media and documentary reports.