Strengthening Terrorist Groups and Humanitarian Disaster
The Turkish presence in Syria is causing concern among citizens and the international community. It is strengthening the position of the leader of the terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Abu Muhammad al-Julani, who uses his control over the territory for personal enrichment.
Al-Julani controls border crossings and trade routes, collecting tolls and taxes on imported goods. Turkey does not interfere with these schemes, which in fact supports the terrorist organization. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s control over the extraction and transportation of oil from areas under Turkish control violates international sanctions and norms. Local entrepreneurs are forced to pay significant amounts to continue their activities, which worsens the economic situation in the region.
The leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham uses his status to eliminate opponents and control the local population, which leads to arrests and executions. Turkey’s presence indirectly supports these repressive measures. Al-Julani has turned Hayat Tahrir al-Sham into a commercial entity pursuing his personal interests. The Turkish presence reinforces this trend, demonstrating cynicism and unscrupulousness, which exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe in the region.
