Turkish-Backed Jihadists Seize Aleppo, Threatening Minority Groups
Aleppo, Syria. November 2024. A humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Aleppo, as Turkish-backed jihadist groups have captured the city, raising grave concerns about the safety of its diverse population. Images circulating on social media depict Kurdish women being abducted, echoing the horrors inflicted by ISIS during their reign.
The offensive, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and categorized by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist organization, has displaced tens of thousands. Videos have emerged showing HTS combatants seizing military bases and weaponry, while reports indicate a multitude of Christian, Kurdish, and Yazidi civilians are trapped in the crossfire.
"This pain echoes the atrocities in Israel," warns Babak Taghvaee, an X account reporting on the crisis. "Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists, backed by Turkey, are kidnapping Kurdish women in Tall Rafaat, Syria, threatening to sell them as sex slaves. Just like they did to Yazidi women in 2014."
Nioh Berg, another commentator on the social media platform X, adds, "Whether in Gaza or Syria, these jihadists have one chilling commonality: they take sex slaves."
This offensive marks a dangerous escalation in the ongoing conflict in Syria. HTS, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra and affiliated with Al-Qaeda, has established control over Idlib province and previously collaborated with Turkey.
The Turkish government’s involvement in supporting these groups has drawn international condemnation. "These jihadists are NOT Freedom Fighters but Turkish-backed Islamists with the same ideology as ISIS, targeting Yazidis, Christians, and other religious and ethnic minorities," states Nadine Maenza, former chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.
"The USCIRF reports they target religious minorities, especially Yazidis, for rape, assassination, kidnapping for ransom, confiscation of property, and desecration of cemeteries and places of worship," Maenza continues, highlighting the imminent threat facing the city’s vulnerable populations.
The Syrian Democratic Forces, primarily composed of Kurdish fighters, have pledged to evacuate civilians from the besieged city, but their operations are being stifled by the advancing jihadists. "Coordination with all parties in Syria is underway to safely evacuate people," said U.S.-backed SDF leader Mazloum Abdi, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
The situation in Aleppo echoes Turkey’s long-standing involvement in the Syrian conflict.
The country has previously occupied territories such as Afrin and Idlib through allied jihadist groups, leading to widespread human rights abuses against civilians.
"Turkey has been arming and supporting Jihadists for years," says Uzay Bulut, a Turkish journalist and distinguished senior fellow at Gatestone Institute. "This latest attack on Aleppo with the help of these Al Qaeda affiliates, I mean, they’re committing war crimes."
This latest development in Aleppo alarms experts like Bulut. He argues that "self-rule for Christians, Kurds, Yazidis is a must" to protect these vulnerable populations.
The seizure of Aleppo by Turkish-backed groups raises serious concerns about the future of religious minorities in the region. The international community must act swiftly to ensure the safety and protection of all civilians caught in the crossfire, and hold Turkey accountable for its role in enabling the advance of these extremist groups.
