NAN-F-46
Border
Beirut, Oct. 10, 2017 (Reuters/NAN) A rebel group in northern Syria has handed the control of a major border crossing to a Turkey-backed Syrian opposition government on Tuesday, the rebel head of political office Khaled Aba said.
According to Aba, by handing over the Bab Salama crossing at the Turkish border, the Jabha Shamiya rebel group aims to strengthen the opposition government and help put an end to factional rivalries.
He urged other rebels to follow Jabha Shamiya’s example by handing over other crossings at the Turkish border.
“The interim government is the solution for the liberated areas to put an end to terrorism, to put an end to factionalism and the state of division in the liberated areas,” Aba said.
Aba is also a member of the opposition delegation to Geneva peace talks.
Bab Salama crossing is the main gateway into an opposition-held area of the North where neighbouring Turkey carved out a de facto buffer zone during a military incursion targeting IS and Kurdish groups in 2016.
Efforts have been underway in that area to merge and organise a plethora of rebel groups whose rivalries have led to factional fighting that has weakened the Syrian opposition throughout the conflict.
“Jabha Shamiya, a major force in Aleppo until the Syrian government and its allies defeated the opposition in 2016 has joined a “national army” operating under the authority of the interim government’s defence ministry.
“It has also handed control of its training camps to the defense ministry,’’ Aba said.
The opposition government is based out of the town of Azaz, a short distance from the Turkish border.
Launched in 2016, Turkey’s “Euphrates Shield” operation drove Islamic State out of a swathe of territory including the cities of al-Bab and Jarablus, preventing further territorial gains by Kurdish groups deemed a threat by Ankara. (Reuters/NAN)
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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Grace Yussuf