Whose problem is Syria's territorial integrity, stability and future?

With Operation Peace Spring, a new situation has emerged in Syria; however, this situation has not yet reached full stability. In fact, in a way, it is quite normal for it not to stabilize until a permanent solution is agreed upon in Syria. Ultimately, Turkey's operation is also a step aimed at the urgent resolution of certain problems that have become acute. Nevertheless, it is certain that this operation itself has redefined the balances in Syria.

Turkey's operation had two primary objectives as well as one long-term strategic goal:

1. To protect its own borders against a real, actual threat.

2. To stem the waves of migration within Syria before they reach Turkey, and in the meantime, to create suitable, safe zones where Syrians currently in Turkey who wish to do so can return to their own country.

3. To preserve the territorial integrity of Syria, prevent the loss of the ground that would leave Syria to the Syrian people, and hinder formations that would threaten internal peace in the country.

Against those who question the legitimacy of the operation conducted by Turkey for the thoroughly justified cause of protecting its own borders and preventing threats directed at it, it has become imperative to ask, by way of comparison, what those currently present in Syria are engaged in there. Who is currently doing what in Syria, and what kind of plan do they have for Syria's future?

When viewed from the perspective of these questions, it becomes clearly visible to what degree the presence of anyone in Syria possesses legitimacy or not. Looking at this picture, the first thing that must be stated upfront is that there is no one other than Turkey in Syria that can propose a solution—and demonstrate it through practice—by considering solely the Syrians, caring about Syria's territorial integrity, and intending to leave Syria only to Syrians.

Let us go through them one by one, if you wish.

Assad no longer possesses the capacity to hold the entire Syrian people together. Having waged a war against his own people by massacring them and destroying his own historical, cultural, and beautiful cities, he has no chance left to preserve Syria's territorial integrity. Nothing can emanate from this cruel administration except instability, fragmentation, insecurity, massacres, and the grossest human rights violations. Currently, what he envisions in Syria is nothing beyond sustaining his power through the most oppressive methods in the areas he manages to hold with the support of Russia and Iran.

Russia, beyond being an accomplice to this dictator who massacres his own people by protecting him, has neither the vision nor the intention to consider the Syrian people as a whole; rather, its own special interests regarding Syria take priority. It regards this place as an area of expansion and a base for its own influence, and it does not care how many innocent lives or systematic human rights violations it costs.

Iran also views Syria merely as an expansion area for its own political influence. Even though it sees it as a front against Zionism, by perpetuating instability in Syria in this manner, it bestows an invaluable boon upon Zionism. Far more Palestinian Muslims than those massacred by Israel have been—and continue to be—massacred by the Assad regime that Iran supports, and while this happens, the Zionist vision is actually being carried out in the most ideal manner at their hands. Iran lacks the vision, will, and plan to hold the entire Syrian people and territory together as a whole. Make no mistake, it may have a plan, but this plan is conditional upon a depopulated and completely Shiitized Syria.

The US came to Syria to overthrow Assad, who slaughtered his own people, used chemical weapons against children, and was regarded as a patron of terrorist organizations. For better or worse, this possessed international justification and legitimacy at the time. However, after arriving in Syria, it abruptly shifted its goal and focused on fighting DAESH, which had emerged before it. For the sake of this fight, it collaborated with, supported, and pampered the PYD, another terrorist organization within Syria, and through them, served only division within Syria and ethnic cleansing practices that could make living together impossible. We are now confronted with a US whose record of misdeeds grows heavier the longer it remains in Syria. The US has no unifying, peaceful, or humane vision or plan for Syria's future.

Then there is the Arab League. It is impossible to understand what they are doing in Syria, whom they support, and whom they oppose. It is also unclear what kind of vision they hold for Syria. While Russia, Iran, the US, and their scions, the YPG terrorist organization, were running rampant without acknowledging Syria's Arab identity, the Arab League suddenly remembered that Syria was Arab when Turkey launched an operation against the YPG, which had also subjected Arabs to ethnic cleansing.

It remembered, to be sure, but like a recollection following a long bout of amnesia—a memory reflecting the stupor of ignoring everything that had transpired in the interim.

Amidst this entire picture, it is crystal clear that Turkey is the only country developing policies by viewing Syria through its territorial integrity, stability, and as belonging solely to the Syrian people.