Hundreds of civilians began returning to the border town of Jarabulus in northern Syria on Wednesday, two weeks after pro-Ankara fighters recaptured it from Islamic State (IS) jihadists. Damascus denounced the intervention as a breach of its sovereignty. “From now on, we have to demonstrate our presence in the region”, he said.
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The offensive has continued to successful seize land from Islamist control: Turkey and its rebel allies now control a 90 km stretch on the Syrian side of the border, and are pushing south.
He said there were 292 people in the first group of registered returnees, including women, children and the elderly.
He said that, over the previous year, intelligence-sharing practices among Arab and Western countries have improved dramatically, making the chances of foiling their attempts much higher, “but the chance that they’ll carry out an attack where they now are still exists”.
Meanwhile, Russia said in a statement issued by its Foreign Ministry that it was deeply concerned by the movement of Turkish troops and its backed forces deeper into Syria’s territory. Power supplies across Syria have been severely disrupted by the war. It has previously cautioned against encouraging returns too soon.
The diplomatic wrangling came amid reports of civilian deaths in air raids as well as reports of chlorine gas attacks in Aleppo and deadly airstrikes near the strategically important town of al-Bab.
The Kurdish YPG militia is a key partner of the US-led coalition against ISIL, and has recaptured large swaths of territory in Syria from the group. The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has fought a three-decade insurgency for Kurdish autonomy in southeastern Turkey.
Johnson says in The Times column that Assad can have no part in a future government in Syria.
Turkish forces and the Ankara-backed rebels are pressing on with the operation inside Syria, which is also targeting a Kurdish militia Ankara regards as a terror group.
Washington and Ankara are ready to work together to push Islamic State jihadists out of their de facto capital of Raqa in northern Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in comments published Wednesday.
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Without giving further details, he said: “What can be done will become clear after the discussions”.
