Did Turkey backstab Syrian opposition's National Army?
Turkey's catch-and-release handling of 18 regime fighters captured by the Syrian opposition shocked many opposition forces.
ALEPPO, Syria — A controversial prisoner release has Syrian opposition forces wondering who's really on their side.
The opposition's National Army and Free Syrian Army (FSA) have fought alongside Turkish forces against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey considers a terrorist group. The Syrian regime has backed up the YPG. Meanwhile, Russia and Turkey forged an agreement regarding the conflict, but Russia is also a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
So there was confusion among opposition forces when their National Army captured 18 regime fighters Oct. 29, and by Nov. 1, the prisoners had been released.
The opposition had captured the fighters, including a lieutenant, in the Ras al-Ain area of Hasakah province in northeastern Syria. The battles there, east of the Euphrates River, are part of Turkey’s Operation Peace Spring, launched Oct. 9 against the YPG.
