Syrian refugees in Turkey celebrated the downfall of Bashar Assad’s government, expressing their desire to return to their homeland. Many gathered in border cities waving Syrian and Turkish flags, welcoming the opportunity to go back after years of living in Turkey. Turkey, a key backer of opposition groups in Syria, has played a significant role in the conflict and has long sought Assad’s removal.
Despite official denials of involvement, Turkey’s interests in Syria align with the recent developments, allowing its Syrian proxy to push back against Kurdish forces aligned with PKK, a group Ankara views as a threat. While Turkey seeks stability and the return of refugees, risks of chaos, new refugee waves, and tensions with Syria’s backers, Iran and Russia, remain.
The fall of the Assad government raises hopes for Turkey to achieve strategic goals in Syria, including securing its borders and facilitating refugee returns. However, challenges lie ahead in controlling jihadist organizations like HTS and managing relations with the YPG, seen as a terrorist group by Turkey despite its alliance with the U.S. against ISIS. The dynamic situation in Syria poses uncertainties for Turkey, balancing its interests with potential risks and opportunities in the evolving conflict.
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