Austin Scott: Demand that Syria abide by buffer zone
The United States of America should demand that the Syrian government stop all attacks against Turkish forces in the Second Northern Syria Buffer Zone and abide by the buffer zone’s agreed-to terms.
Syria, Turkey and Russia created this buffer zone to ease regional tension in October. Despite minor confrontations between October and February, the buffer zone stabilized the area.
However, Syria’s Feb. 28 airstrikes that killed 33 Turkish soldiers marked a significant escalation in regional tension. Stabilizing this area is critical to ending the Syrian civil war and supports the U.S.′ regional goals.
Only minor incidents occurred at the Second Northern Syria Buffer Zone before Syria’s Feb. 28 attack. The Syrian airstrikes on Feb. 28 killed 33 and wounded 32 Turkish soldiers in the buffer zone.
Before this attack, only 14 Turkish soldiers and 17 Syrian soldiers had been killed due to incidents in this area. There were no military deaths since a minor incident in November.
Syria said if Turkish soldiers were at the location, then the soldiers were supporting the rebels. Turkey claims that it followed the correct procedure by notifying Russia of where its soldiers were, but that Russia did not give the information to Syria.
The Second Northern Syria Buffer Zone’s goal is to ease regional tension and Turkey, Russia and Syria agreed to its terms in October. The buffer zone was created when Turkey was supporting Syrian rebels and fighting the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Turkey considers the SDF a terrorist group and it seeks to remove the group from near the Turkey-Syria border. The agreement stated that Turkey would stop attacking the SDF and capturing Syrian territory if the SDF moved outside of the buffer zone. The SDF vacated the area after the buffer zone was established.
Before Syria’s Feb. 28 attack, the Second Northern Syria Buffer Zone was easing regional tension. The region did experience incidents when the buffer zone was created, but after November incidents were rare.
Russia was communicating between Turkey and Syria so military operations would not harm other countries. Turkey followed and supported this buffer zone which shows that it is a helpful regional partner when it is not worrying about the SDF being on its border.
Syria abiding by the Second Northern Syria Buffer Zone supports the U.S.′ regional goals of stability. This goal of stability in the Middle East is partially achieved by ending the Syrian civil war and resettling Syrian refugees.
The Syrian civil war and humanitarian crisis make the area around the buffer zone one of the most unstable in the Middle East. The Syrian civil war led to over 400,000 deaths and 7 million displaced people.
This buffer zone allows U.S. ally Turkey to focus on the humanitarian crisis in the region and not be distracted by what it considers terrorist organizations. The United States has provided $5.9 billion in aid and Turkey has provided over $8 billion in aid for these Syrian refugees
If Syria, Russia and Turkey can focus on removing the terrorists in Idlib, then Syria can take the next steps towards ending its civil war. When the civil war ends, the 13.5 million Syrian refugees can return to their country and Syria can start the rebuilding process.
The Second Northern Syria Buffer Zone represents a first step toward regional stability.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views and editorial stance of the SOHR.