FSA takes hit with slump of Turkish lira
The collapse of the Turkish lira paralyzed markets in Operation Euphrates Shield areas and is harming the livelihood of more than 100,000 families.
ALEPPO, Syria — The record freefall of the Turkish lira (TL) against the US dollar has added to the misfortune of the Syrian opposition in the Operation Euphrates Shield areas in the north and northeastern Aleppo countryside.
The repercussions of the depreciation were most visible in this area since a large segment of its Syrian residents are civil servants and fighters who receive their salaries in TL.
The Euphrates Shield area in the Aleppo countryside, controlled by the Free Syrian Army (FSA), is a region under Turkish influence. Turkey supports civilian and FSA institutions in this area to get them to face any attempts by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) to control the area near the Turkish southern border.
The Turkish lira traded at seven to the dollar on Aug. 10 in the city of Azaz in the Euphrates Shield area. The sinking TL registered on Aug. 23 6.07 against the dollar and became the equivalent to a mere 70 Syrian pounds (SP).
