
8/30/19, “Syrian ‘Rebels’ Feel Left Behind–Burn ‘Traitor’ Erdogan’s Picture," Moon of Alabama
“Since 2011 the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan used Syrian [Islamic terrorist] ‘rebels’ and Islamist Jihadis as proxy forces against the Syrian government. These forces are now mostly confined to Idlib governorate next to the Turkish border. The Syrian army recently made progress against the Jihadis. Turkey did not come to their help. That their resistance is futile began to dawn on them. Syria will recover the whole governorate [of Idlib] and those who resist will be eliminated. The ‘rebels’ fear that their punishment is coming and they now want to flee to Turkey. Unfortunately Turkey does not want them.

They burned pictures of Erdogan while screaming takfir [“foreign fighters”] and allahu akbar.


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After much resistance Erdogan has finally given up on Idlib. While Russia had agreed to a ceasefire in Idlib, Erdogan failed to deliver his part of the deal. The Jihadis in Idlib, supplied by Erdogan, continued to attack Russian forces and Syrian civilians. The Syrian and Russian forces responded with an intense and well targeted bombing campaign and by taking back more and more land. Eleven days ago Turkey made a last attempt to stop the Syrian army by sending a convoy of troops to prevent the recapture of Khan Shaykhun [in Idlib province per above map]. The convoy was bombed and Khan Shaykhun fell.
That was the moment Erdogan gave up. Five of his generals, two responsible for the Turkish observation posts in Idlib, asked for their retirement. Erdogan traveled to Moscow and made some deal. Syria will regain Idlib and Erdogan got an ice cream.
The pressure of people who want leave Idlib after their years of fighting against the Syrian state will not end. Turkey’s economy is in a downturn. The people have become wary of refugees. There is nothing to win for Erdogan by letting more people in.
The Syrian army campaign continues. The next bigger target will be Maarrat al-Numan with a pre-war population of 80,000 people. Most of them have no reason to fear the Syrian government. But many will want to flee the fighting. Each assault will push more people to leave.

They may need the help of Russian bombers to fight their way out or will have to sit still until the Syrian army liberates the region around them.”
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[Ed. note: I changed the author’s spelling of “Idleb” to “Idlib” not because it was incorrect, but because it seems to be the spelling commonly seen in the US.]
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