2016 Nobel Peace Prize nominee White Helmets volunteer
Syria’s civil defense agency White Helmets, who have saved the lives of tens of thousands of civilians in Bashar al-Assad regime and its supporter’s attacks, continue to be a significant support to the Syrian people despite disinformation spread by the Assad regime.
The White Helmets, consisting of more than 3,000 Syrians from various occupations, was established in 2013.
The teams of the civil defense agency, which was nominated for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize, carry out search and rescue efforts, while giving municipality services to the people at the same time.
They also inform the people in the region about the mines, improvised explosives and clearance of unexploded bombs.
Until now, they have rescued at least 115,000 civilians from the debris of regime and its supporter’s bombardments.
The White Helmets, who work devotedly to save the lives of Syrian people, have lost 255 workers until today.
They also include 230 volunteer female workers.
In 2013, the White Helmets teams were trained by Turkey’s Search and Rescue Association, AKUT.
The civil defense agency, which has proved the regime and its supporters’ attacks and crimes, have been exposed to their smear campaign recently.
“We’ve proved their crimes, and we are targeted”
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, White Helmets’ director Raed Saleh said that their only aim in Syria was to help civilians and they had no connection with any military or political institutions since its establishment.
Saleh said they had been targeted for documenting the crimes of the Assad regime and its supporters with evidence.
“Regime and its supporters, who fear and refrain from our presence in Syria, have started to launch systematic smear campaigns on media,” he said, adding that they used this way to make the evidences proving their crimes unreliable, but they failed.
“They sometimes related us with members of a radical organization and sometimes with Western and international intelligence. And this shows that they have no proof in their hands,” Saleh said.
- “We will continue to stand with victim against hangman”
The agency’s director Saleh said: “We are the Syrian youth; we are in service of Syrian people. We will continue to stand with the victim against the hangman [Assad]."
Reminding that they carry out joint works with local councils in the regions, he said: “We are also involved in the provision of services such as road repair, fire fighting, electricity and water.
“Our efforts are appreciated by the international society.”
He said their primary aim was to help civilians.
Saleh also added that they re-started their efforts in Syria’s northwestern Afrin province, which has been cleared of YPG/PKK terrorists with Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch.
He said they are conducting joint efforts with Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) teams.
In addition to the areas under the control of the opposition groups in northern Syria, the White Helmets serve civilians in the regions of Turkey’s anti-terror operations Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch.
Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating civil war that began in 2011. Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the conflict and millions more displaced, according to the UN.
Millions of residents in Syria's northwestern Idlib province, the final stronghold of Syrian oppositions, are concerned about Bashar al-Assad's possible attack on the city.The expected ground attack is feared to trigger a mass exodus of refugees fleeing towards the Turkish border and European countries.The following is a list of frequently asked questions regarding the ongoing calamity in Idlib:Erdoğan says Idlib assault would be ‘a grave massacre’Where is Idlib?Located near the Turkish border city of Hatay, Syria's northwestern Idlib province is home to more than 3 million Syrians, many of whom fled from other cities following attacks by regime forces.Idlib shares 130 kilometers (82 miles) borderline with Turkey and is bordered by Syrian province of Aleppo to the east; Aleppo's Afrin district to the northeast; Hama province to the south and Lattakia province to the northwest.The rebel-controlled town has been under heavy air bombardment since October 2015 when Russia began to actively take part in the civil war.How many civilians are living in Idlib?Idlib has been hosting the highest number of refugees, roughly 1.3 million, as it is a city bordering Turkey and is relatively safe since the beginning of the war. Along with 2.4 million permanent residents, administrative records show that Idlib currently houses nearly 4 million civilians within its borders.After attacks by the Assad regime and the forced migration, the population in the city has increased to nearly 4 million, including 2.4 million residents.Could a large migration wave occur?It is feared that a possible military campaign towards Idlib might trigger a wave of migration containing hundreds of thousands of people. Turkey, the EU and United Nations have announced in statements that a possible operation on Idlib might give birth to a fresh rush of migration.In addition, Stephane Dujarric, the UN Secretary-General's spokesman, Wednesday said: "All parties are responsible for the protection of the civilians, under the international laws. I hope everything will be done to prevent a greater humanitarian plight."4- Where does the Assad regime prepare?With the aim of seizing the Idlib region, the regime has been sending military equipment to the frontlines near rural Latakia and northern Hama for more than two months. The Assad regime maintains the preparations, which has paced up recently, in Abu al-Duhur Airport, Skayiybiye of northern Hama, Silimfe regions in Latakia and line extending to Idlib.5- What does Idlib mean for Syria?Idlib, addressed as the "deadlock" of the civil war that has been ongoing for more than seven years, has importance in various aspects as a result of its location.The M5 highway, which goes through the city, connects Turkey, Syria and Jordan. As for the Syria perspective, Idlib is like a door that opens to Mediterranean whilst neighboring Latakia, Hama and Aleppo. Given that it is right next to Latakia, where Russia's Khmeimim Air Base is located and which is regarded as the "fortress" of Assad regime, contributes to Idlib's strategic value.Roughly 1,500 trucks carrying humanitarian aid per month crosses Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing in Idlib, making the city a key factor for war-weary civilians desperate for help. Besides, some 4,500 commercial trucks pass by the border crossing.6- Why is Idlib important for Turkey's border security?Idlib shares a borderline of some 130 kilometers with Turkey. Turkey is most worried that a conflict leads to a new wave of migration. Turkey currently hosts more than 3.5 million Syrians and works for a cease-fire maintenance in Idlib.On the other hand, the Turkish Armed Forces have established 12 observation points within Idlib's de-escalation zones boundary, adding to the cities' significance. The fact that there are various armed groups in Idlib and they might try to infiltrate into Turkey in case of an operation should be kept in mind.7- What does Turkey do in Idlib?Following a consensus reached within the frame of the Astana Agreement, Turkey, in October 2017, entered Idlib to establish the cease-fire observation points within the boundary of the de-escalation zone areas.As part of the deal, Turkish troops have presence only in the observation points of Idlib.8- What is the Turkish impact on the solution?As the civil war has been continuing for more than seven years, Turkey has been one of the most important peace actors. Sharing more than 900 kilometers of borders, Turkish influence on the region increases. Turkey still defends that the issue should be tackled through negotiation, as it said the same before the public demands were repressed violently by the Assad regime.It has been stated that a solution excluding Turkey, which protects the life and property safety of the civilians and support the legitimate opposition both on field and diplomacy, will lead to a regional disaster.With its stance on the solution, Turkey plays an effective role in eradicating the terror groups in Syria and represents the democratic and safety rights of the millions of Syrians, who are anticipated to continue living in Syria.Turkey supports that the opposition and regime find a common political point.9- Which groups are dominant in Idlib?Idlib is currently divided between the opposition and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an armed anti-regime group. In May, 14 opposition groups fighting against the Assad regime united under the banner of "National Liberation Front". Faylaq al-Sham, Nasr Army, Free Idlib Army, 1st Beach Division, 2nd Beach Division, 1st Firqah, Distinguished Army, Shuda al-Islam Dareyya, Al-Hurriyah Brigade, 23rd Firqah, Syrian Liberation Front, Jaish al-Ahrar and Shukuru Sham have formed the largest military establishment against the regime, containing more than 70 thousand fighters.Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is the other dominant force in Idlib.After the Nusra Front, which was on the UN terrorism list, dissolved in early 2017, some 25,000 fighters formed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Despite that many of its components left the group, it still controls Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing.A couple of other Nusra Front members formed another group called Hurra Seddin. According to Russians, terror groups are dominant in the region, however, the field reports tell the opposite.Idlib is of huge importance as it is the only city under opposition control in Syria. As for the strategic window, it neighbors Turkey in northwest and is next to Aleppo in south, Aleppo's Afrin district in northeast, Hama in south and Latakia in northwest.For the Syrian opposition, it is like a "last castle". Also, the biggest armed groups fighting against the Assad regime are located in Idlib.10- What is the international actors' position on Idlib?Some western countries, headed by the U.S., France and the U.K for the past weeks, exchanged words with Russia on the Idlib issue.These three countries, in a joint statement on Aug. 21, said that they were "gravely concerned over reports of a military offensive by the Syrian regime against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Idlib." All of them reiterated condemnation of the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime.John Bolton, Assistant to U.S. President Donald Trump for National Security Affairs, also warned that they would "strongly" respond if the regime used chemical or biological weapons in Idlib.On top of that, Russian media claimed the military opposition and White Helmet (Civil Defense) would collaborate with Western countries to perform a chemical attack.The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the U.S. planned for a provocation in Idlib to "protect the Nusra Front and assure the permanency of the turbulent situation in the region."The Russian administration, making consecutive statements regarding Idlib, increased its military presence in the Mediterranean. Having sent warships to Latakia and Tartus, Russia will launch a drill in the Mediterranean expected to be the biggest of the modern history, which is viewed as an intimidation to the U.S. block.As the crisis escalates, concerns rise on the safety of the civilians in the region.The Syrian regime has recently announced plans to launch a major military offensive to the area, which is controlled by various armed opposition groups.On Tuesday, the UN’s humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock warned such an offensive would lead to the "worst humanitarian catastrophe in the 21st century".Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani are scheduled to meet in Tehran on Friday for a trilateral summit on Syria.Iran speaker hopes agreement on Idlib will be clinched at Tehran summitOver 8,000 PKK terrorists to join Idlib offensive: FSA commanderTurkey condemned Russia's Idlib attack: FMIdlib offensive could trigger new wave of migration to Europe, Turkey US takes advantage of Idlib crisis to increase support for PKK/YPG in SyriaAssad regime shells Syria's Idlib
Syria's Idlib residents concerned about new attacks
The U.S. imposed sanctions Thursday on individuals and entities that have provided support to Syria's Bashar al-Assad regime.The announcement, which was made by the State Department and posted on the Treasury Department’s website, said all U.S. individuals and entities are hereby prohibited from doing business with them.The individuals sanctioned are Syrian nationals Yasir ‘Abas, Adnan Al-Ali and Muhammad al-Qatirji and Lebanese national Fadi Nasser.The entities are the Syria-based Qatirji Company, Lebanon-based Nasco Polymers Chemicals and Abar Petroleum Service SAL and the United Arab Emirates-based International Pipeline Construction and Sonex Investments Ltd."The United States will continue to use all available mechanisms to isolate the Assad regime, a government which has systematically arrested, tortured and murdered tens of thousands of Syrian civilians in response to their legitimate and nonviolent calls for their freedom, rights and political reforms," the State Department said in a statement.The Syrian regime has recently announced plans to launch a major military offensive in the northwestern province of Idlib, which is controlled by various armed opposition groups.Russian warplanes on Tuesday pounded civilian and opposition targets in Idlib.Located near the Turkish border, Idlib is home to more than 3 million Syrians, many of whom fled from other cities following attacks by regime forces.On Tuesday, UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock warned that such an offensive would lead to the "worst humanitarian catastrophe in the 21st century".Erdoğan to visit Iran for Syria summitErdoğan says Idlib assault would be ‘a grave massacre’UN envoy urges Erdoğan, Putin to discuss Idlib
US imposes sanctions on supporters of Syrian regime
Eight European UN Security Council members on Thursday supported Turkey's diplomatic efforts to avert an offensive in Idlib, northwest Syria, according to Sweden's UN envoy.Olof Skoog, ambassador and permanent representative of Sweden to the UN, said at the organization's headquarters in New York that a full-scale military operation in Idlib would escalate an already dangerous conflict in a volatile region."Idlib is the last remaining de-escalation zone in Syria that the Astana guarantors committed to safeguard."We express our support for the urgent diplomatic efforts being made to this end by Turkey and the United Nations," said Skoog.Skoog demanded that Russia and Iran uphold "ceasefire and de-escalation arrangements they have previously agreed, including protecting civilians as a matter of priority".Video: Eight European UN members back Turkey on Idlib effortThe eight security council members who support Turkey’s efforts are Italy, Germany, France, Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium and Poland.The Syrian regime has recently announced plans to launch a major military offensive in the area, which is controlled by various armed opposition groups.Russian warplanes on Tuesday pounded civilian and opposition targets in Idlib.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani are scheduled to meet Friday in Tehran for a trilateral summit on Syria.Erdoğan to visit Iran for Syria summitWarplanes strike Syria's opposition-held Idlib regionOver 8,000 PKK terrorists to join Idlib offensive: FSA commanderTurkey condemned Russia's Idlib attack: FMIdlib offensive could trigger new wave of migration to Europe, TurkeyRussia says summit to help clarify military situation in Syria's Idlib
Eight European UN members back Turkey on Idlib effort
Chemical weapons are being prepared by the Syrian regime, which is set to launch an offensive on the northwestern province of Idlib, U.S. special representative for Syria James Jeffrey said Thursday.The situation in Idlib is "very dangerous" with "lots of evidence that chemical weapons are being prepared," Jeffrey told reporters in Washington.On Aug. 21, the U.S., UK and France vowed to respond appropriately to any further use of chemical weapons by Syria.Jeffrey said any offensive by Syrian and Russian forces in the region would be a "reckless escalation".The Syrian regime has recently announced plans to launch a major military offensive in the area, which is controlled by various armed opposition groups.Russian warplanes on Tuesday pounded civilian and opposition targets in Idlib.Jeffrey said Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad "has no future as a ruler" but it was not Washington's business to get rid of him.The U.S. will remain in Syria until Daesh is defeated, which Jeffrey said would take a while. He added that U.S. President Donald Trump was "on board" with the commitment to remain in Syria to defeat the terror group.Warplanes strike Syria's opposition-held Idlib regionFrench army chief: ready to strike Syria if chemical weapons usedIf Syria is to be divided, so will Turkey, says KaragülErdoğan to visit Iran for Syria summitKremlin says keen on Syria talks with Turkey, France, Germany
Chemical weapons 'being prepared' in Syria: US envoy
The Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, remains committed to providing humanitarian relief in Syria since the country has been locked in a vicious civil war from the beginning of 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.Speaking to Yeni Şafak daily, head of the Syrian White Helmets Raed Saleh underlined that they are not a part of the fight between U.S. and Russia, and that their only goal is to save innocent lives.“We have a single aim: to help as many innocent people as possible after the bombardments that target civilians. In addition, we support the reconstruction process of parks, roads, bridges, water-treatment plants and orphanages,” he said. “We have saved 115,000 lives in Syria in seven years,” Saleh added.Regime forces set ground for a major massacre in Idlib “The forces that shelled mosques, schools, bazaars, hospitals and thousands of civilian houses since 2011 are in preparation for the last and biggest bloodbath in Idlib. We were the ones who reported all the violations of the Assad regime and its allies, notably chemical weapons, to independent international organizations. Attacks against us stem from the fact that we have provided evidence of their massacres,” Saleh said. Idlib, located in northwestern Syria on the Turkish border, has faced intense attacks by the Bashar al-Assad regime after a vicious civil war broke out in 2011. Since March 2015, Idlib is no longer under the control of the Assad regime and has been overrun by opposition groups.The Assad regime is currently preparing for an offensive against the last opposition-held stronghold of Syria’s Idlib.Over 250 aid volunteers martyred in Syria “65,000 people are currently ready for duty as an emergency volunteers at the areas we remain in. Two hundred and twenty-seven of them are women. We have lost 225 martyrs in this war and 700 of our volunteers were wounded. Organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) supported us the most. The biggest support we received was, without a doubt, from Syrian civilians.”Regime forces target our headquarters “Assad forces are in preparations to attack our headquarters in Idlib, Lattakia, Homs and Aleppo. They want to repeat the massacres in Khan Sheikhoun and Eastern Ghouta. Turkey is the most powerful country in the Syrian issue, and in the upcoming process, the prominent role of Turkey will be grasped better. We follow the efforts of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Turkish government that are conducted in the region to prevent fresh massacres. At least 100 people were killed and hundreds of others injured in the chemical attack in April 2017 in Khan Sheikhoun in western Idlib province. The United Nations called on Russia, Iran and Turkey to forestall a battle in Idlib which would affect millions of civilians and could see the government potentially using chlorine as a chemical weapon.
'White Helmets saved 115,000 lives in Syria'