Yesterday, the armed forces of the Assad regime launched ballistic missiles at the residential areas under the protection of the Turkish army in the north of Syria.
According to Anadolu Agency, ballistic missiles fired from Syrian regime-controlled Kuweires airport in Aleppo have targeted civilian settlements and parking lots for fuel tankers in Jarablus and al-Bab districts of northern Syria.
The Ministry of National Defence of Turkey confirmed the attacks on the civilian settlements in Jarablus and al al-Bab districts.
"After the firing started in the Operation Euphrates Shield area and civilians were targeted, a notification was sent to the Russian Federation side to stop the shooting by the Syrian regime, and the determined targets were put under fire," the ministry said on Twitter
It should be noted that Russian-backed Assad forces and Turkish-backed forces have engaged in dozens of armed clashes, and they continue these actions. The solution methods to the elimination of the clashes between the local armed groups in Syria by three guarantor countries of Astana format – Russia, Turkey and Iran are still unforeseen.
Speaking to Eurasia Diary, Irfan Kaya Ülger, a professor of international relations at the Kocaeli University, has made brief comments about the tension occurred between the Assad armed forces and the Turkish army yesterday.
He said that there is always a constant conflict between Syria and Turkey in the area of Operation of Euphrates Shield.
“In order to prevent terrorist infiltration in the north of Syria resulting from the long-term civil war in the country, the Turkish army decided to take control of the northern region of Syria in 2016. In this region, over 100 thousands of refugees are being provided with shelter and humanitarian aid under the protection of Turkish soldiers,” Irfan Kaya said.
He noted that the attacks on Turkish army-controlled territories by the separatist terrorist groups, the Assad forces and even Russia could not be a surprise.
“The usual suspect of the attacks is the Syrian regime. Turkey, on the one hand, provides the opportunities to shelter victims of war refugees in this region, on the other hand, tries to prevent the flow of terrorist elements into Turkey from this region. These actions are not understood correctly by the Syrian regime,” he said.
Since the Moscow agreement signed in March 2020, Russian and Turkish authorities have been working on the issues with the promotion of security and stability in Syria, but their backed forces have been in armed clashes for long-term.
Turkish expert pointed out that the joint cooperation on the solution of the Syrian problem between Russia, Turkey and Iran is temporary.
“Russia, Turkey and even Iran temporarily engage in cooperation to seek a solution of the Syrian problem. Each of these countries has a different project on Syria. Turkey supports the territorial integrity of Syria along with the aim of ensuring political stability and democracy in the country. Russia seeks to increase its military and political influence over Syria, and from there to enlarge influence to other countries of the Middle East. Iran, on the other hand, ideologically supports the Assad government in Syria, where members of the Nusayri sector are in charge, and believes that if this regime falls, it will be their turn,” he stressed.
“Turkey's cooperation with Moscow is limited only by the protection of the country's territorial integrity. Moscow is against opponents of the Assad regime. But Turkey advocates democratic elections and stability in the country,” he added.
Furthermore, Irfan Kaya noted that the tension in Syria will not have impacts on the recent developments in the South Caucasus.
“Despite Turkey and Russia having a confrontation in Syria and Libya, they are able to cooperate in the issue of Karabakh. Turkey supports bringing up the rights and interests of the Muslim peoples in the Caucasus and Volga-Ural region within Russia. It is clear that Ankara and Moscow cooperate to a limited extent when their interests are necessary,” he added.
