Türkiye to reopen Syria border for returning refugees: Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Monday that Türkiye will reopen the Syria frontier to facilitate the return of refugees, following recent developments in the region.

“We are also opening the Yayladagi border crossing to prevent overcrowding and facilitate traffic during the return of Syrian refugees,” Erdogan said after a cabinet meeting.

This is a crossing on the westerly edge of the frontier that has been closed since 2013.

Having a long border with Syria, Türkiye hosts nearly three million refugees who fled their country after the start of the civil war in 2011, and after Assad’s departure, hundreds have flocked across the border to finally return home.

Türkiye does not recognize terror groups as counterparts

He also welcomed the liberation of Syria’s Tel Rifaat and Manbij from the occupation of terrorist groups, specifically the PKK/YPG terror group and Daesh.

Erdogan emphasized that Türkiye does not recognize these terrorist groups as counterparts but views them as enemies, stressing the importance of maintaining Syria’s territorial integrity.

Listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the U.S. and the EU, the PKK is responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, babies and the elderly, in its 40-year campaign of terror against Türkiye. YPG is PKK’s offshoot in Syria.

Syrian opposition forces launched a massive offensive over the course of 10 days, capturing key cities and, on Sunday, the capital Damascus. This rapid advance, backed by army defections, led to the collapse of the Assad regime after 13 years of civil war.

Assad and his family fled to Moscow where Russia granted them asylum.