Ehmed pointed out that Al-Nusra has been promised that they “won’t be entering deep into Idlib”. He said Turkey is trying to prevent the SDF reaching into Idlib and added: “They will repaint Al-Nusra and sell it to the public again.”

As the Turkish state’s tutelage for gangs in Syria draws to a close with the Raqqa operations, the state continues to develop scenarios and plans against Kurds through gangs. Despite the partisan press fanfare for an “Idlib operation” for days, yesterday the behind-the-scenes of the operation became clear.

In a statement last week to our agency, Revolutionary Forces Commander Hacı Ehmed said the Turkish state and Al-Nusra might soon come to an arrangement. Ehmed spoke to the ANF about the content of this arrangement and the Turkish state’s goals in light of the surfacing information.

The commander said that one of the decisions made in Astana is that the Turkish state instead of Russia would enter Idlib with ground forces and that the Turks are employing the scenario in Idlib. Ehmed continued: “One reason the Turks are doing this is that they want to save face in front of the Russians, Americans and others. This way, they will be able to say they went, they entered and they took control.”

“One of the general goals of Astana was this,” said Ehmed and added: “I mean, Russians were not to enter Idlib themselves through the land, it was the Turks who would. Russia had already announced this. Turks will be presenting it to the Russians like an act, like a play. For now, they came to an agreement with Jabhat Al-Nusra without too much blood spilled. What kind of a reaction will develop in line with the Astana talks in the future, that we will wait and see.”

“AL-NUSRA WAS PROMISED THAT THEY WON’T GO IN TOO DEEP INTO IDLIB”

Ehmed pointed out that before the Turks entered Idlib in two branches, there was a meeting between Turkey and the Al-Nusra Front and added the following on the outcome: “In this meeting, it was decided that Turks were to enter the north of Idlib. That is close to Efrîn, to the south. They were also to enter the west of Aleppo, which is again close to Efrîn. The Atme, Dart İze, Cindires sides. The Turks’ desire here is to enter the area and build 3 bases there. Turks want to settle in the Cebel Adi hill, a small hill able to control Sheikh Bereket and Afrîn, Dart Ize, above Efrîn Cindires, and Atme.”

Ehmed stated that looking at the demands in this agreement, the goal is not to enter deep into Idlib but to surround Efrîn and added: “So, looking at it from reverse as well, the goal is to surround Idlib and to not have to enter deep into Idlib. This was promised to Al-Nusra as well.”

“SLAP A NEW COAT OF PAINT ON AL-NUSRA AND RESELL TO THE PUBLIC”

Ehmed said the Turks promised they won’t be meddling with Al-Nusra’s interior affairs and Al-Nusra will be transforming accordingly and continued:

“And time will tell how that goes. They might transform with a new name and act accordingly. So the plan is to slap on a new coat of paint and resell it to the public.”

Erdoğan’s aim and real purpose is to protect Al-Nusra, rather than end it. We know that from the beginning, Al-Nusra’s primary supporters have been Qatar and Turkey. So how will the Turks now come and attack and end Al-Nusra? That doesn’t seem plausible. Their goal is to take Al-Nusra under protection, rather than ending it inside. And to lay siege to Efrîn and launch a military operation on Efrîn and Shehba in the future when conditions are good.

Al-Nusra accepted this as well in the meeting. A few hours after they accepted, several trailers full of aid entered the area and were handed over to Al-Nusra. Support for Al-Nusra continues in different ways still.”

“THE GOAL IS TO CUT OFF THE SDF AND LAY SIEGE TO EFRÎN”

Ehmed stated that, looking at the forces brought over for the Idlib operation under the name “Euphrates Shield”, it can be understood that they are just for show. Ehmed continued:

“The forces brought there are not suitable to fight, not in numbers and not in ability. Looking at this situation, it makes more sense that the plan is not to fight Al-Nusra, but to leave Al-Nusra alone, transform and protect it from the beginning. The true goal is to position their forces in 3 points in the north of Idlib and south of Efrîn, thus keeping Efrîn under surveillance and create a constant threat, to prevent SDF from reaching towards Idlib in the future, to push Efrîn tighter and weaken it. The Chief of Staff had visited, Hakan Fidan had visited, there were large military committees with high authority who visited and there were 3 prominent Al-Nusra emirs in this meeting as well. This is how that meeting concluded, and the general purpose was determined.”

“JOINT MILITARY BASE WITH Al-NUSRA DOESN’T SEEM REALISTIC FOR NOW”

Revolutionary Forces Commander Hacı Ehmed spoke about the discussions that the Turkish state will be founding 3 large scale military bases together with the Jabhat Al-Nusra and said the following:

“We had assessed before as well that there are some agreements there and the Turks would somehow enter Idlib, but the scope of this was not clear. With this latest agreement and the staged play, it is now.

The goal is to settle in locations where they can surveil and lay siege to the northern line of Idlib and the south of Efrîn in particular. Now there is talk that Jabhat Al-Nusra and Turks will be forming a joint military base and it won’t just be the Turks. But looking at it practically, this doesn’t seem very realistic for now.

The goal right now is to have Turks settle in a couple of points to the south of Efrîn, bring in heavy weapons and act more comfortably to surround Efrîn, cutting off all contact with the outside world.”