The Turkish president said Ankara ‘extended a hand’ to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but he ‘did not respond’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on 6 December that the extremist groups waging an assault against Idlib countryside, Aleppo, and Hama will be “continuing towards Damascus.”
“We do not want escalation to continue in the region,” the Turkish president claimed.
“Idlib, Hama, and Homs are in the hands of the Syrian opposition, and they are continuing towards Damascus. We extended our hand to Bashar al-Assad but he did not respond,” he added.
Homs has not fallen to the extremists, despite Erdogan’s statements. Yet some militants have entered its countryside.
Since the assault began on 27 November, the extremist factions have captured several areas in the Idlib and Aleppo countryside, Aleppo city itself, and several areas in the countryside and city of Hama.
Over the past two years, Damascus and Ankara have been discussing a potential normalization of ties under a Russian-sponsored initiative.
Yet President Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian government repeatedly demanded a Turkish commitment to withdraw its occupying forces from Syria and end its support of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Ankara’s Syrian National Army (SNA) proxy, the two main forces leading the current assault on Syria.
Sources cited by Al Mayadeen when the attack began late last month implied Ankara is using the assault to pressure Assad in normalization talks.
Turkiye was among the leading countries which supported the US-backed war against Syria that began in 2011. It has supported extremist groups for over a decade, and allowed for the incorporation of ISIS elements and other violent extremist groups – such as Jaish al-Islam – into the SNA force, which acts as its proxy in Syria.
🔗SOURCE ➡️ The Cradle
12/5 — Old Feuds Reignite Between Turkish-Backed Extremists Attacking Syria's Aleppo
Tensions have erupted between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) force as they wage a joint assault against Idlib countryside, Aleppo, and Hama.
...HTS-led factions also stormed sites belonging to the SNA’s Fajr al-Hurriya group .. in Aleppo
Additionally, SNA militants expressed that they were threatened by HTS leader Abu Muhammad al-Halabi, prompting the Turkish-backed fighters to flee from their positions.
HTS and the SNA have had longstanding issues, and in 2022, they fought fierce clashes against each other over territorial disputes in the Aleppo countryside. The SNA coalition – made up of several former ISIS elements – was formed by Ankara in 2017 to act as a Turkish proxy in Syria. HTS assumed its current name that year after rebranding itself more than once from its initial title: Al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front. It has also enjoyed Qatari support over the years.
12/5 — HTS-Led Extremists Overrun Hama As Syrian Army Withdraws Troops
12/4 — The Situation In Syria Escalates, Yezidis Fear Another Genocide.
12/2 — US-Backed Kurdish Militia Withdraws From Aleppo In Agreement With HTS
12/2 — Turkish Intelligence Directing Extremist Offensive In Northwest Syria
An Israeli official stated the Al-Qaeda offensive on Syria's second largest city provides 'opportunities for change'
...Al-Qaeda-affiliated Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) currently invading Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, are taking orders from Turkish intelligence, French news agency AFP reported on 30 Nov
12/1 — Al-Qaeda Attack On Aleppo Serves 'The Israeli Occupation Entity': Syrian FM
12/01- Assad Vows To Eradicate 'Terrorism' As Syrian Army Regroups To Confront HTS Offensive
11/31 — Armed Extremists Raise Jabhat Al-Nusra / hay'At Tahrir Al Sham Flags In The Citadel Of Aleppo.
11/30 — HTS Jihadis Executing Unarmed Syrian Soldiers
8/27 — Syria–Turkey Normalization Talks Yield ‘No Results’: Assad
8/12 — US-proxies Shell Syrian Army As Tribal Revolt Continues
7/9 — US Proxies in Syria Anxious Over Possible Damascus–Ankara Reconciliation
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