The key Islamist group of Ahrar al-Sham, in statement dated on Tuesday, said it supports Turkey's planned buffer zone north of the country, ensuring that Turkish efforts is to save Syria from de facto partition.
ِThe Islamic movement said the "Safe Zone" is a popular demand by all Syrians since the revolution erupted in Marsh 2011. The delay in establishing such zone was behind Syria's massive destruction and the heavy damage in its infrastructures, according to the statement.
"The buffer zone will have positive impacts on humanitarian, military and political aspects, what may serve the interests of both countries, Syria and Turkey," the statement said.
Ahrar al-Sham was the first rebel group operating in Syria to announce support and allegiance to the Turkish move.
On Monday, al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front has withdrawn from frontline positions against Islamic State north of Aleppo and ceded them to other rebels, leaving an area where Turkey wants to establish a buffer zone, Reuters said.
A Nusra Front statement dated Sunday criticized a Turkish-U.S. plan to drive Islamic State from the Syrian-Turkish border area, saying the aim was to serve "Turkey's national security" rather than the fight against President Bashar al-Assad.
The United States and Turkey last month announced their intention to drive Islamic State fighters from a strip of territory in northern Syria near the Turkish border, providing air cover for Syrian rebels in the area.
Nusra said , according to Reuters, the Turkish government and the U.S.-led alliance against Islamic State were seeking to direct the battle according to their interests and priorities, and said Syrian groups taking part were not doing so of their free will.
It added that the Nusra Front would maintain frontlines with Islamic State in other areas including Hama province and the Qalamoun mountain range near the border with Lebanon. (Editing by Ridha Ali)
Zaman Al Wasl
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