Turkey Developing 'Cold Feet' In Supporting Syria's Rebels

Image: Turkey's border has been open to refugees and fighters.

Erdogan, Syrian Rebels’ Leading Ally, Hesitates -- New York Times

ISTANBUL — From the start of Syria’s civil war, rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad have had no better ally than Turkey’s prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He has effectively kept Turkey’s border with Syria open, allowing fighters a haven in the south of his country as weapons, cash and other supplies have flowed to the battlefield.

He has even fired on Mr. Assad’s forces.

But now, Turkey finds itself in the same position as many of the rebels’ early backers, including the United States — concerned that Islamist radicals have come to dominate the ranks of the Syrian opposition. It shelled rebel positions this week for the first time since the war started, in yet another positive turn for Mr. Assad, who has found his position increasingly stable, if not secure.

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My Comment: Turkey's open support of Syria's rebels has changed as the dynamics on the ground in Syria have changed in the past two years. Bottom line .... hardcore Islamists are now running the war in Syria, and they are no longer listening to Turkey’s prime minister Erdogan or any other leader in the region.