Thousands more Syrians rush toward Turkey to flee fighting
Thousands of Syrians rushed toward the Turkish border Friday, fleeing a fierce government offensive and intense Russian airstrikes near Syria’s largest city of Aleppo.
Turkey, an ally of the Syrian opposition, promised humanitarian help for the displaced civilians, including food and shelter, but it did not say whether it would let them cross into the country, already burdened with hundreds of thousands of refugees.
“The attacks and bombings by the Russian planes and the Syrian regime have left our brothers with nowhere else to go,” Turkish Prime Minister Ahmed Davutoglu said in a televised speech.
The U.N. estimated that nearly 40,000 newly displaced people have massed in recent days in several border areas of northern Syria, including about 20,000 near the Bab al-Salam border crossing. Turkish authorities increased security at the crossing and the pro-government A Haber news channel said all police and military leaves were canceled.
The international aid group Mercy Corps said that among those fleeing toward Turkey were residents of rebel-held areas of Aleppo who feared they would soon be besieged by government forces, while others were running from troops advancing in rural areas.
The Syria n government offensive began earlier this week in rural areas north of Aleppo, the provincial capital, and appears aimed at eventually encircling the city. Forces loyal to President Bashar Assad captured several towns and villages, driving a wedge into rebel-held areas and cutting off a supply road to Turkey.
Once Syria’s thriving commercial center, Aleppo has been divided since 2012 between government- and rebelcontrolled districts. A government siege of rebel strongholds could isolate tens of thousands of civilians and would deal a devastating blow to the morale of groups fighting to topple Assad for the last five years.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest expressed con- cern that government forces backed by Russia threatened Aleppo.
“It does look like a terrible humanitarian situation inside of Syria and it is poised to get worse,” Earnest said.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry accused Russia of using imprecise “dumb bombs” that have killed large numbers of civilians.
“This has to stop. Nobody has any question about that,” Kerry told reporters at the State Department.
A U.N.-led attempt to launch indirect talks between a government delegation and opposition representatives in Geneva was adjourned Wednesday amid acrimonious bickering. U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura said the process will resume Feb. 25.