Border crossings bring in cash for Free Syrian Army factions
The Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army is racking up serious sums of money from fees it charges at border crossings in northern Syria.
ALEPPO, Syria — The Free Syrian Army and its factions are making lucrative use of the many border crossings they control in areas around Aleppo. The large financial resources they reap enable the factions to recruit and train new fighters and build new training camps.
The areas, liberated from the Islamic State (IS) during Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield, have numerous external crossings with Turkey in the north and internal crossings connecting FSA areas with those of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in Afrin and Manbij.
These crossings are lifelines for northern Syria, particularly the city of Aleppo, as they facilitate the movement of people and goods.
The liberated areas are home to three external border crossings with Turkey. Bab al-Salameh border crossing, some 5 kilometers (3 miles) north of Azaz, is among the most active in terms of exports and imports.
