The Conflict in Syria as it Relates to Turkey | Updates & Discussions

[usernameless]

Iraq rebels to release Turkish hostages

Turkey's Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz has announced that forty-nine Turkish citizens who have been held hostage by the self-styled Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) rebel group for over 50 days will likely be freed in the next day or two.

"We are pursuing contacts with all parties in Iraq. We are in contact with everyone who has an influence on ISIL. They (the hostages) may come back tomorrow or the day after tomorrow," Yilmaz told reporters, urging the public to remain patient.

“You may either have an operation to get [the hostages] back, or solve this problem through negotiations with patience,” the mnister said. “We want to solve the issue through negotiations, because we belive this is the right way. They [the hostages’ families] should have a little more patience.”

The 49 Turkish nationals, including Turkey's Consul General Ozturk Yilmaz, have been held hostage since the ISIL seized Mosul, the second biggest city in Iraq, on June 10.

In early July, the ISIL also released 32 Turkish truck-drivers who were also taken hostage during the siege on Mosul.

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If true, I wonder what Turkish govt's policy regarding iraq will be after this.

 

[telkon]

looks like ISIS will become neighbours with turkey as it captures large swaths of land in the north of aleppo.

 

[Hakan]

TURKEY DETAINS 19 FOREIGNERS WITH ALLEGED LINKS TO ISIS

ISTANBUL — Turkish security units took 19 foreign citizens into custody at southeastern border province of Gaziantep for their alleged links to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and for attempting to cross into Syria from Turkey, Gaziantep Mayor Erdal Ata said.

All the arrested suspects are reportedly foreign nationals, Ata said. "There are people who come to our city for the sole purpose of joining ISIS. We take the necessary legal actions against them," he added said.

Some of the suspects arrived from Europe and Caucasian countries and were detained either in the Gaziantep airport or on the border by the Turkish officials, Ata stated. Those not involved in any criminal actions are sent back to their countries, whereas those involved in any crime are now standing on trial, he added.

Commenting on the news air by a German TV channel that "There is a military camp of ISIS in Gaziantep", Ata said, "That is a completely make-up news. Search for that camp all over the city. If you find it, I will apologize."

The images shown on the German TV channel, portraying an alleged ISIS camp in Turkey, could have been shot at anywhere in the world, Ata says. "Those images display only a couple of village houses and they could be taken anywhere," he said, adding that he firmly states that there is no such camp in Gaziantep and the Turkish government "could not let that happen."

Since the capture of the Iraqi city of Mosul by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and a major increase in terrorist activities of the organization, Turkey has begun facing accusations by Western media, claiming that Turkey allowed ISIS militants and weapons to cross its border, a claim that has strongly been denied by the Turkish government.

Despite continuous accusations against Turkey, no evidences have been shown to prove that Turkey aided ISIS, which is also listed as a terrorist organization in Turkey.

Although border security was reinforced throughout the four years of conflict in Syria and the new ISIS threat in Iraq, the country's long border with both countries is allegedly used by foreigners to sneak into the countries to join radical groups.

Turkey detains 19 foreigners with alleged links to ISIS | Politics | Daily Sabah

 

[Hakan]

ARMY REPELS SMUGGLERS ON SYRIAN BORDER​

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A group of 70 smugglers carrying sacks of unidentified materials attempted to cross the Turkish-Syrian border to the southeastern town of Reyhanlı of Hatay Province in Turkey, according to a statement from the website of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).

The smugglers were warned to stop yet, as the group ignored the verbal warning, the Turkish military unit from the Bükülmez military outpost fired warning shots into the air to stop the group, after which the smugglers retreated in the direction of Syria, the TSK statement said. After a while, unknown assailants opened fire on Turkish soldiers with Kalashnikovs from the Syrian side, the statement stated. The Turkish military fired back into Syria in retaliation. Following the Turkish soldiers' counter attack, the assailants fled in the direction of Syria, resulting with the prevention of the smuggling attempts, the TSK statement said. The Turkish Army has been effectively working against any smuggling activities on the Turkish-Syrian border for years. The border zone between the two countries has become more crucial since the start of the civil war in Syria.

Army repels smugglers on Syrian border | Nation | Daily Sabah

 

[Neptune]

Good to see that they had this fence.

 

[Syrian Lion]

AKP allowing terrorists to roam freely in Turkey, in addition allowing them to recruit...

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/16/world/middleeast/turkey-is-a-steady-source-of-isis-recruits.html

 

[Rumelia]

AKP allowing terrorists to roam freely in Turkey, in addition allowing them to recruit...

The vision that Turkey supports terrorism is utter nonsense. It is not proven. Enemy of Iraq and Syria is the USA who wants to divide the Middle East. We told Assad to move and let democracy do his thing, but he did not listen. Look at Syria now. Stop watching Syrian national TV, because it is full with nonsense and propaganda.

But i believe in karma. I am sorry for the good Syrians, but the family Assad supported Pkk for years. Now you taste the same thing.

I remember you Syrian Lion you had treads with Syria vs Turkey. You where always hostile against Turkey. We have 2 million Syrian refugees who thank Turkey we feed them look after them. You support the wrong side. Syrian people want islam and they should have it. Stop pretending you are a wanabee western country. People have the right to vote and have the right to live how they want.

 

[Hakan]

Syrian Kurds Flee To Turkish Border As ISIS Attacks Villages
IŞİD ile Kobane arasında 25 km. kaldı! haberi

IS jihadists close in on Syria Kurd town​

Jihadists from the Islamic State group using heavy weapons have seized a string of villages around Ain al-Arab as they close in on Syria's third largest Kurdish town, a monitor said Thursday.
"IS fighters have seized at least 21 villages around Kobane," said Syrian Observatory for Human Rights head Rami Abdel Rahman, using the Kurdish name for Ain al-Arab.
"The IS is using heavy weaponry, its artillery and tanks," he said, adding that thousands of Kurdish fighters defending the town on the Turkish border were being encircled in a "pincer movement".
Kobane is Syria's third largest Kurdish town after Qamishli and Afrin. Its capture would allow the jihadists to control a long stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border.
Speaking to AFP via the Internet, an activist in Kobane said that apart from the villages seized by the jihadists, others have also been abandoned by residents fearful of the IS advance.
"If the situation doesn't change, it is very possible that (the IS) will enter the city," said Jan Ali, using a pseudonym to protect his identity.
"We are seeing the signs of a humanitarian crisis in Kobane," he said, adding that IS has cut off water and electricity supplies to the city.
Ali said Turkish authorities were blocking the only safe way out, into Turkey.
"People from the villages have fled to the city... Some are trying to cross into Turkey but the Turkish authorities are not allowing them," he said.
The Syrian opposition National Coalition, meanwhile, warned of "the danger of a massacre of civilians" in the Kurdish areas.
Abdel Rahman said the latest IS offensive was larger than a July assault that was repelled by the Kurds backed by hundreds of fellow Kurdish fighters who crossed from Turkey.

IS jihadists close in on Syria Kurd town

 

[usernameless]

Oh boy, seems like the Kurds once again are going to be indebted to Turkey That buffer zone should be enacted asap so that these people can safely be put there instead of bringing them, of which there are pkk supporters among them, to Turkey. Let's not make the same mistake by adding more Kurds to Turkey like was done during Ottoman-Safavid sunni and shia population exchange and 1,5m Kurds entering Turkey during Saddam's time.

 

[Hakan]

Turkey opens border to Syrian Kurds fleeing ISIL offensive - MIDEAST

 

[Hakan]

45,000 Syrian Kurds enter Turkey: Deputy PM

Some 45,000 Syrian Kurds fleeing advancing Islamic State and Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants have poured across the border into Turkey since Ankara opened up its southern frontier on Sept. 19, the country’s deputy prime minister has said.

"As of now, 45,000 Syrian Kurds have have crossed the border and entered Turkish soil from eight entrance points," Numan Kurtulmuş told reporters on Sept. 20.

"No country in the world can take in 45,000 refugees in one night, bring them here unharmed and find them a shelter without a problem. This proves how powerful Turkey is," he added.

Syrian Kurds have been massing since Thursday on the other side of the border as the ISIL extremists seized dozens of villages in a lightning offensive as they close in on the strategic Syrian town of Ain al-Arab, known to the Kurds as Kobane.

Turkey opened its border on Friday after new fighting near Kobane prompted a mass exodus of residents.

Ankara, which has given shelter to some 1.5 million refugees from the Syrian conflict, has been refusing to accept any more for fear of being overwhelmed.

On Sept. 20, Ankara announced the 49 of its nationals that the IS extremists seized from its consulate in Mosul in June had been released and were back in Turkey.

Some 4,000 Syrian Kurds - mostly women, children and elderly people - crossed to the southern Turkish town of Dikmetas on Friday.

"We have opened our doors because we had to," Kurtulmus said, adding that Turkey was ready to cope with an even larger refugee influx. "We are ready for both the worst case and the best case scenario," he said.

UNHCR on Sept. 19 welcomed "Turkey’s prompt action in ensuring safe haven for and extending support to Syrian-Kurdish civilians seeking to cross its borders."

"It is of life-saving importance, that these people have access to safe haven," said Amin Awad, Director of UNHCR’s Middle East and North Africa Bureau. "Its actions ... were right and humane in a very difficult situation."

45,000 Syrian Kurds enter Turkey: Deputy PM - MIDEAST

 

[rmi5]

That's an awful news. They should not let them enter to Turkiye. It would be even more difficult to deport them back later. To be honest I am in for deporting all Syrian refugees. They are only a source of problem. We need to send them to some arab country like KSA, Egypt, or Iran.

45,000 Syrian Kurds enter Turkey: Deputy PM

View attachment 67136​

Some 45,000 Syrian Kurds fleeing advancing Islamic State and Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants have poured across the border into Turkey since Ankara opened up its southern frontier on Sept. 19, the country’s deputy prime minister has said.

"As of now, 45,000 Syrian Kurds have have crossed the border and entered Turkish soil from eight entrance points," Numan Kurtulmuş told reporters on Sept. 20.

"No country in the world can take in 45,000 refugees in one night, bring them here unharmed and find them a shelter without a problem. This proves how powerful Turkey is," he added.

Syrian Kurds have been massing since Thursday on the other side of the border as the ISIL extremists seized dozens of villages in a lightning offensive as they close in on the strategic Syrian town of Ain al-Arab, known to the Kurds as Kobane.

Turkey opened its border on Friday after new fighting near Kobane prompted a mass exodus of residents.

Ankara, which has given shelter to some 1.5 million refugees from the Syrian conflict, has been refusing to accept any more for fear of being overwhelmed.

On Sept. 20, Ankara announced the 49 of its nationals that the IS extremists seized from its consulate in Mosul in June had been released and were back in Turkey.

Some 4,000 Syrian Kurds - mostly women, children and elderly people - crossed to the southern Turkish town of Dikmetas on Friday.

"We have opened our doors because we had to," Kurtulmus said, adding that Turkey was ready to cope with an even larger refugee influx. "We are ready for both the worst case and the best case scenario," he said.

UNHCR on Sept. 19 welcomed "Turkey’s prompt action in ensuring safe haven for and extending support to Syrian-Kurdish civilians seeking to cross its borders."

"It is of life-saving importance, that these people have access to safe haven," said Amin Awad, Director of UNHCR’s Middle East and North Africa Bureau. "Its actions ... were right and humane in a very difficult situation."

45,000 Syrian Kurds enter Turkey: Deputy PM - MIDEAST

 

[Hakan]

That's an awful news. They should not let them enter to Turkiye. It would be even more difficult to deport them back later. To be honest I am in for deporting all Syrian refugees. They are only a source of problem. We need to send them to some arab country like KSA, Egypt, or Iran.

Cmon man. You cant turn these people away. Imagine if you were in their situation.

 

[rmi5]

Cmon man. You cant turn these people away. Imagine if you were in their situation.

I said turn them to their brother arab-farsi countries. They are not our business. Each foreign tourist who sees these long beard weirdos, would not return back to Turkiye They don't deserve to be in Turkiye.

 

[usernameless]

how many refugees are there out there? 1,5m? let's say daily meal cost per person is at least 10 euro = 15m euro per day... excluding tents, medical assistance etc. Nice and good intentions as usual from Turkey, but is the EU and US supporting Turkey in this case? there are also cases of refugees infiltrating to big cities, becoming nothing but beggars and illegal workers. this is going to be nothing but a headache, especially for the local population, if govt doesnt tackle this problem well for a smooth future. imo Turkmen should be given the choice to enter Turkish citizenship.