The Independent: Syria’s war is not over and its hospitals are still being bombed

Attack responsibility

But Ankara and the Syrian opposition political and security leadership in the region believe that the Kurdish “Syrian Democratic Forces” are responsible for the attack, noting that the group controls the Tal Rifaat pocket on the other side of the mountain adjacent to the city and launches frequent missile attacks on the area, which it considers an integral part of the semi-autonomous region. An autonomous country in northern Syria calls it the “Republic of Rojava” but the group has vehemently denied any responsibility for the attack.

Al-Shifa Hospital, which was bombed, is located next to a large security facility where former Syrian fighters and Turkish security advisers work. It is also in the crossfire of the Syrian regime forces and allied Shiite militias backed by Iran stationed in nearby areas.

The Turkish-backed Syrian opposition factions had taken control of Afrin in the province of Aleppo in 2018, after removing the “Syrian Democratic Forces” from it, which Turkey says has links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party “PKK” (PKK), which it considers a terrorist organization.

The attack on Al-Shifa Hospital – according to the newspaper – is only one of hundreds of missile attacks that targeted private hospitals and clinics during the war that spanned the past decade, most of which were supported by the Syrian regime forces and Russian supporters.

undermining “progress”

The Independent reported that the Turkish authorities and their allies believe that the latest attack is, in fact, an attempt to undermine what they see as “progress” in providing services and improving the standard of living of residents in Afrin.

The city, unlike other areas, including those under the control of the regime, is now supplied 24 hours with electricity and drinking water, new roads have been built in it by Turkish contractors, and signs of an emerging commercial activity are visible throughout.

Turkey considers – according to the newspaper – the attempt to revive Afrin as part of its strategy to combat the military insurgency in the region, and a step towards depriving the “Syrian Democratic Forces” of obtaining the support of the local population.

It also hopes that improving the standard of living in it and in other areas of Syria under its control, including Tal Abyad and Azaz, will persuade some of the 3.5 million Syrian refugees living inside Turkey to return and live inside Syria.