Inat Hatip is a commander of the Liwa Simal Demokratik (Democratic Battalion of the North) group which was formed at the beginning of the uprising against Assad regime. The group had to leave Idlib in 2014 after Turkish supported Al-Nusra, Ahrar Al-Sham and Feylak Sham groups’ attacks.  Liwa Simal is now fighting alongside Syrian Democratic Forces in Sehba region of Syria.

Ihat Hatip said in 2012, the opposition groups formed in Idlib were targeted by Turkish supported Salafist groups like Al-Nusra and Ahrar Al-Sham. He also said that the Turkish intelligence brought groups from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to increase its influence over the region.

“(The terrorist groups) They started to appear in public and they didn’t feel the need to hide after they became more powerful. They seized the mosques and started to give Friday prayer sermons. They intervened with people’s life style, formed courts and forced people to obey their dark and cruel rules. Turkey worked against the groups who tried to fight for good and it only supported those who acted in their favour. After all we as Liwa Simal Democratic had to leave Idlib” Hatip said.

TERRORIST SETTLED IN IDLIB BY TURKEY

Hatip accused Turkey, Iran, Qatar, Syria and Russia of settling all jihadists, Salafists in Idlib after removing them from different parts of the country. He said: “They brought Al-Nusra to Idlib from the south. They wanted to show Idlib as a source of terror so they settled Al-Nusra members in Idlib. The civilian population had to pay the price for this. The lives of people shattered and the economy was destroyed. Like it was not enough the regime bombed the people of Idlib.”

Hatip pointed out Turkey’s intentions to invade Idlib and said that the Turkish state had a long-term plan for an invasion when it first started to support Al-Nusra and other groups.

“Now Turkey wants to pick the fruits of what it sowed 3-4 years ago. Turkey wants to invade Idlib” Hatip said.

TURKEY WANTS TO ENCIRCLE AFRIN

According to Hatip, Turkey aims to encircle Afrin canton with invasion of Idlib. Citing Turkish efforts to persuade Russia and the opposition for a military intervention in Idlib Hatip said: “The Turkish state tries to persuade people of Idlib with promises to remove Al-Nusra from the region. Normally our people sees Turkish intervention as a invasion but the conditions forces them to remain silent.