IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Residents and activists in Idlib, northwest Syria, believe that any potential Turkish military operation against northeastern Syria does not serve interests of the Syrian people, rather it serves Turkey’s.
Turkey threatens to launch a military operation, claiming to protect its “national security” by building a human wall on its southern border with Syria, according to the residents.
On Thursday, the Turkish National Security Council said that Turkey’s “existence and future military operations” along its southern border were necessary for the country’s security, claiming that they did not target the sovereignty of its neighbors.
These statements were published few days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s announcement of an impending military operation into northern Syria to complete the establishment of a 30 km-deep Safe Zone along its southern border.
The Turkish Safe Zone is an area 30-35 km (19-22 miles) deep into Syrian territory that Turkey started establishing in 2019, claiming that it aims at housing 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.
On May 3, Erdogan unveiled a new project in several parts in northern Syria, in which one million Syrian refugees will be settled.
Muhammad Ibrahim, a pseudonym for a media activist in Idlib, said that Syrians must be aware of the Turkish interests, which are totally different from those of the Syrian revolution.
The Syrian revolution started in 2011 when people in different Syrian areas took to streets, demanding toppling of the Syrian government, dignity and freedom.
Human Wall
“The areas that Turkey calls safe are not safe, as they are always being targeted. Azaz, al-Bab and Idlib are witnessing daily bombardment,” Ibrahim told North Press.
“Turkey claims that the targeted areas are safe, as it turned the Syrians it settled in those areas into human shield to protect its border,” Ibrahim noted.
“Syrians must return to their own towns and cities in Syria, but not to be settled in cement block buildings on the border on the lands of other Syrians in an area turkey claims to be safe, but in fact it is never safe,” he said.
Khalid Rahmon, a university student, who forcibly was displaced from the city of Hama and lives in Idlib, told North Press that he rejects any potential Turkish military operation in northeastern Syria.
“Turkey is certain that the residents of the region, especially the Kurds, will not accept the presence of the Turkish forces in their areas, and will choose to leave their homes and live outside its Safe Zone,” he stressed.
“By this, Turkey will get rid of the Syrians refugees, who are predominantly Arab, and will settle them in Syrian areas belonging to others,” Rahmon further explained.
“This operation will not be in the interest of the Syrians as Turkey claims,” he added.
Rahmon believes that this military operation in northeast Syria will be met with Russian movement in Idlib, which will cause a new large-scale displacement towards the only left destination Turkey’s Safe Zone.
There is no safe zone
“We have become familiar with military operations that Turkey launches to cut areas in northeastern Syria, and in return the Syrian regime and Russia start battles in Idlib,” said Fu’ad al-Hussein, a resident of Harem, in north of Idlib.
“Turkey nowadays is talking about a safe zone on its southern border, but in fact, there is no safety in the targeted area,” al-Hussein added.
He further explained that all the areas held by Turkey, extending from Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) in the east to Afrin and Idlib in the west, witness security chaos including explosions on a daily basis.
In Idlib, a day can hardly passes without being pounded by the Syrian government and Russian forces, according to al-Hussein.
“What a safe area Erdogan is talking about!” he wondered.
Faraj al-Hamed, a displaced person residing in Idlib, called on the Turkish-backed armed Syrian opposition factions (known as the Syrian National Army, SNA) which are preparing for a military operation against northeastern Syria, to consider what they are preparing for.
“In the very beginning of the Syrian revolution, we protested against the Syrian regime, we raised slogans emphasizing the unity of the Syrian people,” al-Hamid stressed.
“We must return to the first objectives of the revolution, which are freedom and dignity, we didn’t protest to be used as mercenaries at the hands of the Turks,” al-Hamid concluded.