Turkey was the force behind the jihadist opposition, Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as well as the Syrian National Army (SNA), as they toppled the Assad regime in Syria. Despite widespread celebration of the ouster of Assad, which is seen also as a victory over Shia Iran, the Sunni jihadist rebels intend to impose the Sharia across Syria, threatening religious minorities. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also long envisioned a revived Ottoman Empire, with himself as caliph. He is virulently hostile to Israel and is a bane to the Kurds. As Israeli journalist Zvi Ba’rel writes in Haaretz:
With a strategic interest in turning Syria into an anti-Kurdish bulwark, Turkey is seeking to take the place of Russia and Iran – including control of Syria’s airspace
Turkey’s key role in the opposition jihadist and rebel takeover of Syria is the proverbial devil you don’t know, but there is enough known about Erdogan and his ambitions, as well as about HTS leader Al-Jolani, that should cause major concern as Turkey celebrates its victory and reopens the Turkish embassy in Syria — rather prematurely at that.
“Turkey reopens its embassy in Syria for the first time in 12 years,” by Orestes Georgiou Daniel, Euronews, December 14, 2024:
Turkey reopened its embassy in Syria on Saturday, becoming the first country to do so since the end of Bashar al-Assad’s rule last weekend.
Some of the Syrian insurgents who overthrew al-Assad had received support from Turkey.
Diplomatic ties had been cut between Syria and Turkey since 2012. The embassy suspended operations 12 years ago due to the insecurity caused during the Syrian civil war.
Several countries maintained diplomatic ties with al-Assad’s government during the conflict, which lasted 13 years, while others reopened their diplomatic missions in recent years as they sought to normalise relations with the regime….
“Before his ouster, Syria’s Assad told Iran that Turkey was aiding rebels to unseat him,” by Parisa Hafezi, Reuters, December 14, 2024:
DUBAI, Dec 14 (Reuters) – In the final days leading to his ouster, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad complained to Iran’s foreign minister that Turkey was actively supporting Sunni rebels in their offensive to topple him, two Iranian officials told Reuters this week.
Five decades of rule by Assad’s family ended on Sunday when he fled to Moscow, where the government granted him asylum. Iran had backed Assad in Syria’s long civil war and his overthrow was widely seen as a major blow to the Iran-led “Axis of Resistance”, a political and military alliance that opposes Israeli and U.S. influence in the Middle East.
As rebel forces from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly aligned to al Qaeda, seized major cities and advanced towards the capital, Assad met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Damascus on Dec. 2.
At the meeting, Assad voiced anger over what he said was Turkey’s intensified efforts to unseat him, according to a senior Iranian official. Araqchi assured Assad of Iran’s continued support and promised to raise the issue with Ankara, the official said…..
somehistory says
And it’s believable because that er snake a wan wants to rule the world. The turkey’s ghoul likely believes he can control the ‘rebels’ from al queda so that he can rule over the land that was Syria.
ElderlyZionist says
Once the dust settles in Damascus, Erdogan will have a land bridge to Israel. So far Erdogan has avoided real wars, preferring to bomb defenseless villages in Kurdistan. But if he wants a war with Israel, he’ll be able to have one. I trust Israel will strongly fortify their Golan frontier with Syria.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
That’s the point I’ve been making since the day the Assad regime fell. Turkey now has a de-facto border w/ Israel, and w/ it, Israel has a de-facto border w/ NATO. So now if Israel has to bomb any hostile targets in Syria like it has been doing for the last few days, and lets say it hits a Turkish asset, will NATO invoke Article 5 of its charter?
After all, NATO helped empower islamic entities, first in Kosovo, and later in Libya. So will this be their latest adventure?
ElderlyZionist says
Indeed.
FYI says
Meanwhile the Israelis have justifiably closed down their embassy in Dublin Ireland.There are of course pro-Israel groups i know in Ireland…but the Irish govt and media are so lefty and so criminally corrupt that ii is understandable.
The media bias against Israel is appaling.No objective reportage.
The Irish govt and media .in their criminality and corruption,only represent themselves,not neccesarily the people.They award themselves juicy pay rises whilst they fleece the people.They won’t answer questions about the large number of military aged muslims brought in.Horrific attacks on children and Gay people have taken place.Chilld poverty and homelesness have increased
Simon “the ghoul” Harris and his govt have a lot to answer for….
࿗Infidel࿘ says
If they’ve done that and recalled their embassy staff, they should also expel Ireland’s diplomatic mission to Tel Aviv
Billy says
Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the 50+ Islamic States of discrimination, violence, and terrorism against ALL Non-Muslims as Turkey seeks to revive the Islamic Empire, like the Ottoman Empire. Allah in Qur’an 8:39 says, “And engage in war with them[Non-Muslims] until there will not be sedition and the religion will be completely to Allah…” Allah in Quran 9:111 says, “Surely Allah has purchased from the believers[Muslims] their souls and their money so that they may have the garden[Heavenly Paradise]. They engage in war for the sake of Allah, so they k i l l and are k i l led…”
Tony says
If Israel fights Turkey, a NATO member, will NATO help Turkey, a Muslim Terrorist State? Already, the world is against Israel based on Muslim deceit and propaganda.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Great question
That’s why NATO is obsolete. Russia is not an enemy, but even worse, Turkey is not an ally!
Had we updated our alliances, Russia would be one of our allies, and Turkey and China would be at the head of our enemies list
James Lincoln says
Infidel,
Agree that the United States of America should have updated our alliances following the end of the Cold War.
World geopolitics have changed, but NATO remains as an obsolete “old chestnut”.
Stephen says
Belonging to NATO & Israel’s skill will keep Turkey from DIRECTLY attacking Israel, NATO has it’s finger on Turkey, they were booted out of the F35 program & denighed the abillity to buy built up jets , both F35 and F22.
So if it did come down to a scrap between Israel & Turkey, the turks would get the shit seriously kicked out of them as Israel has recently proven. (not one jets was shot down in all the dealing to Hamas, Hesbolla and Iran. Israel has a very sharp set of F35’s, they have their own software which is superior to the US F35 version and they know how to use it.
Eurdogan will have to use proxies, just as Iran has used proxies and we all know that went … Proxies cost money, lots of money and doesn’t always end the way it’s wanted to …