Idlib, Syria residents lose faith in Turkish role as guarantor
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – With the recurrence of military confrontations between Syrian government forces and Turkish-backed opposition groups in the de-escalation zones around Idlib, residents are concerned with the increasing possibility of a comprehensive attack by government forces soon. Many are asking whether the presence of Turkish forces’ posts in the southern countryside of Idlib, northwestern Hama and northern Latakia will have any benefit in preventing an advance by Syrian government forces if clashes do break out.
The Turkish military has about 66 military posts in Idlib governorate and the countryside of Hama and Aleppo, including 15 points besieged by Syrian government forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Amer Dhiab, an IDP from Zawiya Mountain in the southern Idlib countryside, said, “I think that Turkey is the main reason for the opposition’s loss of most cities and towns since it entered Syria four years ago, through the agreements it has made with Russia and government forces.”
“The people of the area and the opposition didn’t gain anything from the Turkish entrance. On the contrary, all the agreements that Turkey made were against them…Turkey only cares about its interests and nothing more,” he added.
Abd al-Razaq al-Idlibi, an activist in the Idlib region, told North-Press that during previous advances by government forces, Turkish points did nothing to prevent attacking forces from gaining ground, as in the Hama countryside and southern Idlib.
He added that “government forces advanced and took control of many areas, and the Turkish points became besieged within the government-controlled areas. Some of them were bombed, killing dozens of Turkish forces.”
Idlib resident Mamoun al-Masri told North Press that he does not believe that the role of the Turkish points in Zawiya Mountain is different from their role in the northern countryside of Hama, Shashabo Mountain, and the countryside of Ma`arat and Saraqeb. “Turkey will just only stand by and watch,” he added.
Shahoud Jadoua, a media activist in Idlib, told North Press in an interview that the presence of the Turks today in Zawiya Mountain is the same as it was in the northern countryside of Hama and Ma’arat al-Nu’man, but what makes the current situation different is the passage of Turkish military equipment into Zawiya Mountain, including military units with anti-air missiles.
“Turkey won’t intervene in any battle started by the Syrian regime, and their response to any possible attack is unlikely now,” he added.
Nour Nabhan, a displaced person from Hama countryside who lives in the Deir Hassan camps, took a different view, telling North Press that “the current situation does not accommodate any more territorial secession, so most of the Turkish points will play a role of effectively blocking progress.”
“We hope that its presence and military weight will be a reason for the withdrawal and retreat of the Syrian government forces and Russia,” Nabhan added.
Source: Idlib, Syria residents lose faith in Turkish role as guarantor – North press agency