Syrian opposition: Regime is resolute to carry on military operation to Idlib

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - DECEMBER 24: The Bashar al-Assad regime and its supporters are resolute to conduct new military operations to Idlib province in northwest Syria, said the president of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020. In an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency in Istanbul, Naser al-Hariri said the regime and its allies want to carry out new military operations against Idlib, using the excuse of the fight against terrorism. "Our first priority will be to prevent the region from falling into the hands of the regime," he said. On the constitutional work and free elections, which are the cornerstone of the rebuilding of the political process in Syria, al-Hariri said the regime (Assad) is preparing for the presidential elections and this is illegal. He stressed that the Syrian people will never accept that. - Terrorism Drawing attention to the strong ties between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the PKK which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU, al-Hariri said the SDF works against Syria and the Syrians. "The SDF, which does not break its ties with the PKK, does not give up its practices against the Syrian people and its idea of federalism,” he said. He said the military operations of the Syrian National Army (SNA) in the region began due to provocations of the SDF. "That is why some villages around Ayn Issa were liberated. If the SDF does not withdraw from these regions, the situations are open to all options and the military operations may expand in the coming days," he said. On the relations with the US, al-Hariri said they heard from the US administration that the US' approach and policies in the Middle East and Syria will not change. "Their priority is the fight against Daesh (ISIS) and Iran's removal from Syria. They will support to the political process supported by the UN," he said. (Footage by Omer Ensar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)