Syrian Turkmen leader claims Assad forces vacating Aleppo
The leader of the Syrian Turkmen Association claims that the military forces loyal to Syrian President Assad were being evacuated from Aleppo, leaving the Turkmen vulnerable to ISIL attacks
The president of the Syrian Turkmen Association, Samir Hafez, said Turkmen living in Aleppo were face-to-face with the big threat of the Islamic Stated of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL, militants as the regime forces were withdrawing from the area, and shouted for more help from Turkey.
Hafez stated that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launched a plan to displace Turkmen people, who were operating the little industries of the city, from Aleppo by leaving them while still under the danger of being attacked by the ISIL terrorist group.
“The government offices in Aleppo were evacuated. The historical artifacts were taken to the port cities of Latakia and Tartus. The heavy weapons deployed at the border were lifted and the high-ranking officers began to leave the area," Hafez said.
He said the ISIL has come to the siege point and added if Turkmen could not stanch the ISIL's attack, they would have to leave the city.
He called on the Turkish government to help them and said that they would submit a report including their needs and a list of necessary support for Syrian Turkmen to the Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.
“Our only aim is to prevent the Turkmen from being displaced and keep them on their own soil," he said.
He claimed that Assad wanted to increase the burden of Turkey by forcibly displacing Turkmen.
Syrian Turkmen own many little industries, especially the shoe factory in Aleppo was operated by Turkmen, Hafez informed.
The ISIL militants have already settled into the townships evacuated by Assad's force.
Hafez said the warplanes of the Assad regime were pouring 15 to 20 barrel bombs per day to the Turkmen populated villages, including Sarayköy, Avanlı, Elmalı, Gebelli, Dervişan and Çardaklı, and stated that the bombs mainly targeted mosques and schools.
He said the forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad were about to be disorganized and counted, “There were 3,000 fighters from Iran and Hezbollah on the Turkmen mountain."
The Educational and Teaching Directorate of Aleppo bound to the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces declared one week suspension of education in the city due to the attacks targeting schools' civil residential units.
The regime's attacks targeting civilians in Aleppo and Idlib increased after a fatwa approving the murder of civilians was released by Ahmed Hassun, a Mufti of the Assad regime.
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