Alwaght- So-called moderate rebels of Free Syrian Army and terrorists are fighting shoulder to shoulder while miserable civilians residing near Turkish-Syrian border openly admit Ankara’s support for militants.
Local residents and refugees of Turkish town of Karkamis, located on the border with Syria just opposite the area controlled by ISIS terrorists, told RT that Turkey has allegedly played a major role in fostering and supporting both so-called moderate rebels and terrorists.
Many Karkamis residents were forced to flee the town and find a home elsewhere because of the danger they faced from ISIS attacks across the border.
Turkey’s efforts to increase security, which were largely limited to building a wall that cut off the local cross-border trade, have led to majority of shops being boarded up and abandoned.
Those who stayed are Syrian refugees who managed to escape ISIS terrorists in Syria. However, they do not believe the danger is over, as ISIS shells and bullets reach them even in Turkey’s Karkamis.
RT claimed a very contrasting account was given to its correspondent by a fighter from the Syrian opposition, who openly admitted receiving help from Turkey and seamlessly crossing into Syria every two weeks. The conversation also gives an insight into how casual the relations of the so-called moderates are with Islamist groups siding with internationally recognized terrorists, but not recognized as terrorists by Turkey or the West.
“Turkey is the only one supporting us. We are very grateful for their help,” the fighter told Phelan.
When asked what groups he is fighting along, the man mentioned “Jabhat Al Shamiye, the Sultan Murad Division, the Sham Legion and Ahrar al-Sham.”
Ahrar al-Sham has been accused of slaughtering civilians around Aleppo earlier in June, while Russia has repeatedly pointed to the groups’ brotherly ties with Al-Nusra Front terrorists.
Turkish journalist and columnist for Al-Monitor Fehim Tastekin told RT that Al-Nusra uses other groups, such as Ahrar al-Sham, as proxies to distribute weapons “coming from Turkey.” Tastekin added that “they also share money in the same way.”
Reports of the Turkish government’s ties with ISIS have surged in recent months, with some alleging that Erdogan is supporting the terror group so that it would help remove his geopolitical rival, Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Others point out that Turkey chooses to be involved in the Syrian conflict to beat Kurdish fighters, who are one of the few successful forces when it comes to battling against Islamic State.
