Horrific massacre campaign looms over Turkmen land in Syria

A Syrian Turkmen commander said that Assad forces will plot a large-scale massacre against the Turkmen community in coming days.

“Uncertanity has prevailed on Turkmen Mountain. The government forces, backed by Shia militia, will embark on a fresh massacre campaign in Turkmen villages across Bayır-Bucak region," Syrian Turkmen Colonel Ahmet Arnavut told Yeni Şafak's reporter in Nevsehir, in central Anatolia.

In early December, the regime, backed by Russian air strikes, established firm control over the regions of Fırınlık, Burj al-Zaviye, and Red Mountain as well as the 17 Turkmen villages around the strategic hill overlooking the Turkish border.

“The regime troops have seized 17 Turkmen villages in Bayır-Bucak. Every single villager has been forced to leave the home our ancestors have inhabited for six centuries," the Colonel said.

“The worst is that those refusing to abandon the ancestors' land will face death and horrific torture sooner or later," he divulged.

The troops loyal to Assad, still hold almost all regions on Red Mountain while Syrian Turkmen forces have tried to ensure firm control in the villages of Kümeyir, Saldır and Yamadi on Turkmen Mountian for nearly a month.

The regime troops overran Burj al-Qasab, a town in north of Latakia, a long-time stronghold of the regime, three days ago as a result of an offensive, backed by Iranian militia and Russia by air and land strikes. Syrian and Russian flags have been raised in all Turkmen villages captured by regime troops.

Almost all villages on Turkmen Mountain, which was home to more than 20,000 civilians, were evacuated over the past two months. Thousands of Turkmen villages now try to survive in makeshift tent cities, set up close to the Turkish border under winter storm and freezing temperatures.

Meanwhile, there are reports that villagers, especially teenagers, have been subjected to unbearable torments in the regime-held Turkmen villages. The reports said that scores of Turkmen teenagers who have stayed home to protect their families, have been arrested by regime forces in a harsh crackdown.

One of the reports, quoting local residents, said four teenagers were taken to an unknown place and executed by being shot in the face at close range for their involvement in the Turkmen uprising.

They had their hands tied behind their backs while Assad's soldiers trampled on their hands during the journey that ended in their execution.

Turkmen sources said that 2,000 Syrian Turkmens, including civilians, were killed by Assad's forces during the conflict, which has continued over Turkmen Mountain over the last three years. Russian airstrikes, supposedly targetting DAESH targets in Syria, have left at least 230 Syrian Turkmens dead since September 30, sources said.