The Turkmens Are Being Driven Out Of Syria

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The Independent: Syria air strikes: Russia accused of ethnic cleansing of Turkmen

Far from targeting Isis, Russia’s air force is trying to drive the Turkmen minority from north-west Syria in order to carve out safe territory for its ally Bashar al-Assad, the ethnic group’s leader tells Laura Pitel in Istanbul.

Moscow is waging a relentless campaign of aerial bombardment intended specifically to “drive out” the Turkmen minority from north-western Syria, the community’s political leader has warned.

Abdurrahman Mustafa, who as president of the Syrian Turkmen Assembly is the figurehead for the ethnic minority, accused the Russian air force of trying purge the area in order to carve out a safe enclave for its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, amid growing global pressure for an end to the conflict.

In an interview with The Independent, Mr Mustafa said thousands of Turkmen civilians had been forced from their homes in the region known as Bayirbucak. “There are not many left,” he said. “It is nearly impossible to survive amid this bombing.”

WNU Editor: The Turkmen's affiliation with Turkey has become their curse. The question that needs to be answered is ... what will Turkey do? Aside from shooting down a Russian military jet ... it looks like not much aside from supplying weapons to Turkmen rebels and their supporters from Turkey.