The decline in popular acceptance of the Turkish presence in northern Syria… and the people: Turkey is a partner with the guarantors in targeting the region

A military presence has become suspicious of the population
Yamen Al Khaled – Idlib / ASO News Network
Editing: Nohrin Mustafa
Civilian demonstrations took place around the Turkish forces’ concentration points recently, and the popular welcome for the Turkish presence began to gradually fade with the fall of every civilian in the bombing of the Syrian government forces, or as a result of being run over by Turkish patrol cars. The vıew of the people in Idlib North-West Syria started to change as Turkey get back of its responsibilities to ensure the stability of the region and to protect civilians.

Local sources told ASO News Network that the Turkish presence is no longer welcomed by the majority of the residents of Idlib and its countryside, after the area was recently subjected to aerial and ground bombardment targeting the villages and towns of Jabal al-Zawiya, south of Idlib, by Syrian government forces with the support of Russia, while the Turkish forces present committed at the observation points, silence about what is happening, as well as the many harassment and violations that civilians have been subjected to by the Turkish forces, including confiscation of property and trampling of civilians and others.

“Said Turkmani,” a journalist who resides in the western Idlib countryside, told ASO News Network that the popular view of the Turks and their role in northern Syria has already changed dramatically as a result of all the daily massacres of civilians in the area of ​​the de-escalation agreement, of which Turkey was a part. Everyone is aware of the truth of the Turkish deception that it passed in Syria and entered on the basis of protecting civilians, but what is happening is a terrible Turkish silence and evasion of the responsibilities entrusted to it.

“Turkmani” added, “We saw how many angry popular demonstrations, burning tires and cutting roads in the vicinity of many Turkish observation points took place on July 22 of this year, after a series of massacres committed by the regime forces and their ally Russia in the Jabal al-Zawiya area in the southern Idlib countryside. Which resulted in many martyrs and wounded, most of whom were women and children.”

“Turkmani” added, “The region has witnessed a violent escalation in the intensity of the bombing since the beginning of May of this year, which has sparked a wave of popular anger due to the Turkish silence and the lack of movement of its points to protect civilians, which are estimated at more than 80 points, while civilians demand Turkey to put an end to its presence in the northern of Syria, especially in the Idlib region and its countryside, is either the Turkish presence with the intention of protecting civilians and not being exposed to them, or leaving the Syrian territory completely.

The possibility of an escalation of popular clamor against Turkey increases if the Turkish forces continue their current policy of dealing with the Syrian reality and not put an end to all encroachments.

“Ahmed al-Juma’a,” one of the civilians participating in the demonstrations against the Turkish forces from the town of Al-Bara in the southern countryside of Idlib, told ASO News Network, that the Turkish prevarication has become exposed and we will no longer fall victim to its lies and deception of civilians, Turkey has nothing but more penetration inside Syria. Occupying areas and extending its influence, and it does not care about civilians, and this matter has become known to the majority of the population of northern Syria.

And Al-Juma’a added, “The time has come for everyone to stand against this lie that Turkey and its forces entered Syria and to put an end to it. It is not possible for us to accept that we will be killed again by the trampling and bombing of its friend, Russia by the Turks, and the fate of thousands of civilians must be guaranteed.They are still in the southern countryside of Idlib, close to the regime forces’ control.”

Al-Juma’a stresses the necessity of restoring the rights of civilians that were robbed by the Turkish forces at several observation points, in addition to compensating the families of the victims who fell as a result of running over their cars.It is also necessary to work immediately to reduce the number of Turkish points and force Turkey to assume its responsibility as a guarantor of the ceasefire agreement. What is known as de-escalation.

Intisar Murad, a human rights activist from the village of Kansafra in the southern countryside of Idlib, told ASO News Network that Turkey played a humanitarian chord at the beginning of its intervention in the Syrian affairs and deluded the Syrians that it was the sponsor of their interests and protector, and this made it very welcome because of the difficult days the Syrians lived through. From bombing, displacement, getting homeless and killing, and now other features have begun to surface, all of which indicate that Turkey is only seeking for itself.

“Murad” added, “The agreement that Turkey concluded with other guarantor countries such as Russia and Iran, and the strengthening of the Turkish military presence through dozens of observation points, did not change anything but more death, displacement and suffering, so it is natural for Turkey to clash with angry civilians who reject it and demand its commitment to its obligations.” And this is a legitimate right for them, given that Turkey is a guarantor and has assured civilians in Idlib and its countryside that it will not allow the regime to commit massacres and stop it in any way whatsoever.”

“However, the ball is still in the court of the Turks until they change their methodology towards what is happening and they have to bear the responsibility placed on their shoulders to ensure that civilians do not revolt against them, for they have become in front of a dead end after the regime and Russia besieged them in a small geographical spot, and if the opposite happened, events will witness developments that will not be in favor of Turkey,” she said.

While the air and ground bombardment by the Syrian government and Russia has recently escalated in separate areas in the Jabal al-Zawiya area in the southern countryside of Idlib, such as the towns of Ihsem, Al-Bara, Balion, Iblin and others, which resulted in many martyrs and wounded civilians, despite the existence of the “de-escalation” agreement that Turkey is part of it.