Syrian rebel fighters from the recently-formed ‘National Liberation Front’ take part in combat training at an unknown location in the northern countryside of the Idlib province on Tuesday, in anticipation for an upcoming government forces offensive (AFP photo)
SEPTEMBER 12th, 2018
By Patryk Krych | The World Daily
Turkey Reinforces Idlib and Braces for Casualties after Ceasefire Failure
Idlib, home to nearly 3 million people, and one of Syria’s last rebel refuge/strongholds has experienced heavy military reinforcement on the part of Turkey, in preparation of an onslaught from Syria’s government forces that may lead to uprooting of hundreds upon thousands of people in the region, after the call for a ceasefire had ultimately failed and been dismissed, Syrian and Turkish rebel sources have stated.
Tayyip Erdogan himself mentioned this, additionally accusing the West of having abandoned Idlib to President Bashar al-Assad, and leaving Turkey to deal with the many refugees created by the violence. This, despite the fact that the country has stopped taking in refugees recently, having built a 900km wall between the Turkish-Syrian border. Instead, Turkish aid and security officials stated they’d host the Syrian refugees near the border within Syria’s borders in the case of an attack and dislodgment of Idlib civilians.
A Turkish senior security source had said; “The refugees will not be accepted into Turkey because previous experiences have shown that with such migrant waves, the entrance of radicals and terrorists into Turkey have been too much,” and going on the add “We will keep the refugees in Syria for the safety of both Turkey and European countries.”
Several thousands of Syrian refugees have already evacuated to the Turkish camps with the borders of their country, hoping to avoid potential losses and airstrikes.
These apparent issues had started to surface more after Erdogan had failed to arrange a ceasefire at the meeting in Tehran last Friday between the two primary backers of Asaad; the Russian and Iranian presidents.
The senior security source continued; “We have a military presence there and if that military presence is damaged or attacked in any way, it would be considered an attack on Turkey and would therefore receive the necessary retaliation.”
The statement that an attack on Idlib would be an attack on Turkish forces is certainly disconcerting and tension raising, as the Turkish Minister of Defence stated that they wish to halt air strikes and anticipate an attack. The aforementioned security source also mentioned the addition of 12 Turkish militant posts having been stationed in Idlib recently.
The region of Idlib has been designated, only last year, as a “de-escalation zone”, along with a few neighbouring regions, in an accord involving Russia and Iran, hence the setting up of the Turkish military posts. Three other such zones have already been recaptured by Syrian army forces recently, and it seems as though Idlib is in danger of being a next target.
The Syrian rebels in Idlib seem prepared, in any case, as a senior source mentioned the heavy reinforcement of the region with tanks, armoured vehicles, and special forces, all sent from Turkey, “There are very big reinforcements of Turkish forces inside Syria and these observation posts have now in effect become permanent military bases,” they said. Reuters footage has confirmed this, with video of Turkish forces moving into the region, militant, and bearing ammunition supplies.
At least 10,000 of those fighting in Idlib have been designated as terrorists by the United Nations only a fortnight ago, said U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura. Hence Turkey’s notes of several jihadist fighters in specific towns in Idlib that they believe ought to be targeted, so as to avoid casualties in a likely upcoming storm.
By Patryk Krych | The World Daily
©2018 THE WORLD DAILY
