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WILL TURKEY FORCE NATO'S HAND IN SYRIA?
World Magazine
March 31 2014
Syria | Turkey's role in attacks in northern Syria could force NATO intervention
By Mindy Belz
Posted March 31, 2014, 09:44 a.m.
BEIRUT--Rebels, with help from Turkish tanks and anti-aircraft fire,
are prevailing in a sustained attack in northwestern Syria that began
a week ago, Syrians in the area are reporting.
Armed jihadists, mostly foreigners fighting the government of
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, began "leaking" over the border
and invaded villages in Latakia province, according to eyewitnesses
and survivors of the attacks. The coastal province is home to Assad,
and many villages in the area are inhabited by Alawites, the Muslim
sect of the Assad family. Many villages in the area also are home to
Armenian Christians.
The assault began March 21 when fighters attacked Kasab, a
predominantly Armenian border town. That fighting left at least 80
dead and forced about 3,000 Christians to flee, seeking refuge in
nearby hills or the coastal city of Latakia. "In taking over control,
churches were desecrated, houses pillaged, and government buildings
destroyed," one pastor told World Watch Monitor.
In Latakia, about 600 families are taking shelter in Armenian
churches. Local charity groups are providing food, mattresses,
blankets, and clothing--"since almost all of them have left without
their personal daily wear," according to a Syrian Armenian doctor
(who is not named for security reasons).
During the attacks, Turkish tanks were stationed at the border in
support of opposition fighters, according to eyewitnesses. The Assad
regime responded to the assault with troops and airstrikes. On March
23, Turkish anti-aircraft fire hit a Syrian fighter jet, a MiG-21,
sent to protect military installations in the area and to thwart
rebel convoys. The jet went down but the pilot ejected.
"Turkey is hosting jihadis," said a Syrian humanitarian worker who
lives in Damascus and received reports from the area. A Muslim who
supports the regime in the civil war, he asked not to be identified
for security reasons. "We feel this fight is not something related
to Syria, not something for our good," he said.
The Syrian physician told me that displaced Armenians from Kasab
reported the jihadi fighters included Chechens, Tunisians, Turks,
and Arabs.
Turkey is a member of NATO and the United States has an air base
that's home to the 39th Air Base Wing at Incirlik, just 130 miles away
from the area of border fighting. Armed military conflict between
Turkey and Syria could severely escalate the Syrian war, forcing a
NATO intervention.
Turkey, along with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United States, and others
have staked positions against the Assad government and are supporting
varied rebel factions in the war. The attacks on Armenians mark
the first targeted assault on the long-established group of ethnic
Christians, many of whom took refuge in Syria during the Armenian
genocide in Turkey a century ago. With Turkey no safe haven, many
forced from Latakia Province are hoping to seek refuge in Armenia
itself. But they will need to cross into Turkey in order to get there.
Mindy Belz is reporting this week from the Middle East.
http://www.worldmag.com/2014/03/will_turkey_force_nato_s_hand_in_syria
World Magazine
March 31 2014
Syria | Turkey's role in attacks in northern Syria could force NATO intervention
By Mindy Belz
Posted March 31, 2014, 09:44 a.m.
BEIRUT--Rebels, with help from Turkish tanks and anti-aircraft fire,
are prevailing in a sustained attack in northwestern Syria that began
a week ago, Syrians in the area are reporting.
Armed jihadists, mostly foreigners fighting the government of
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, began "leaking" over the border
and invaded villages in Latakia province, according to eyewitnesses
and survivors of the attacks. The coastal province is home to Assad,
and many villages in the area are inhabited by Alawites, the Muslim
sect of the Assad family. Many villages in the area also are home to
Armenian Christians.
The assault began March 21 when fighters attacked Kasab, a
predominantly Armenian border town. That fighting left at least 80
dead and forced about 3,000 Christians to flee, seeking refuge in
nearby hills or the coastal city of Latakia. "In taking over control,
churches were desecrated, houses pillaged, and government buildings
destroyed," one pastor told World Watch Monitor.
In Latakia, about 600 families are taking shelter in Armenian
churches. Local charity groups are providing food, mattresses,
blankets, and clothing--"since almost all of them have left without
their personal daily wear," according to a Syrian Armenian doctor
(who is not named for security reasons).
During the attacks, Turkish tanks were stationed at the border in
support of opposition fighters, according to eyewitnesses. The Assad
regime responded to the assault with troops and airstrikes. On March
23, Turkish anti-aircraft fire hit a Syrian fighter jet, a MiG-21,
sent to protect military installations in the area and to thwart
rebel convoys. The jet went down but the pilot ejected.
"Turkey is hosting jihadis," said a Syrian humanitarian worker who
lives in Damascus and received reports from the area. A Muslim who
supports the regime in the civil war, he asked not to be identified
for security reasons. "We feel this fight is not something related
to Syria, not something for our good," he said.
The Syrian physician told me that displaced Armenians from Kasab
reported the jihadi fighters included Chechens, Tunisians, Turks,
and Arabs.
Turkey is a member of NATO and the United States has an air base
that's home to the 39th Air Base Wing at Incirlik, just 130 miles away
from the area of border fighting. Armed military conflict between
Turkey and Syria could severely escalate the Syrian war, forcing a
NATO intervention.
Turkey, along with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United States, and others
have staked positions against the Assad government and are supporting
varied rebel factions in the war. The attacks on Armenians mark
the first targeted assault on the long-established group of ethnic
Christians, many of whom took refuge in Syria during the Armenian
genocide in Turkey a century ago. With Turkey no safe haven, many
forced from Latakia Province are hoping to seek refuge in Armenia
itself. But they will need to cross into Turkey in order to get there.
Mindy Belz is reporting this week from the Middle East.
http://www.worldmag.com/2014/03/will_turkey_force_nato_s_hand_in_syria