Syrians in Turkey baffled by Trump’s safe zones plan
A state of confusion and uncertainty prevails among Syrians living in Turkey, after the announcement by US President Donald Trump at the end of last month of his decision to create safe zones for civilians in Syria.
GAZIANTEP, Turkey — Mohamed Fadel owns a small clothing shop selling ready-to-wear clothing for women and children in the old market in this city in southern Turkey. He opens his shop for more than 12 hours a day to serve his customers, mostly Syrians living in Turkey.
The merchant did not pay much attention to US President Donald Trump's recent statements regarding the creation of safe zones in Fadel's homeland, Syria, in an ABC News interview broadcast Jan. 26.
Fadel, 52, hails from Aleppo in northern Syria. Back home, he owned a textile factory. After the onset of the war, he left his home and all of his properties in Aleppo and fled to Gaziantep, where he has been living for four years. He decided to open a clothing shop since this fell within his previous line of work.
The ongoing war divided Aleppo between a western part controlled by pro-Assad regime forces, and an eastern part held by the Free Syrian Army (FSA) factions. However, on Dec. 23, the FSA forces were defeated and fully retreated from Aleppo.
