Reports: Syrian Troops Shoot Refugees on Sight

Security Forces Aim to Block Civilians From Fleeing to Turkey

According to reports from families that have managed to successfully flee across the border, the Syrian military is adopting a “shoot-on-sight” strategy toward anyone attempting to retreat to neighboring Turkey.

Turkey has been welcoming large numbers of refugees from Syria for months now, but those arriving and bringing tales of brutality have led to growing concerns that Turkey will use the growing refugee crisis as a pretext to invade and create a “buffer zone” in Northern Syria.

Indeed, Turkish criticism of Syrian policy has been growing in recent days, and a number of nations across the region seem keen to transition the public protests for democracy in Syria toward a regime change more compatible with their assorted goals.

Ironically this has simultaneously convinced the regime that they cannot allow refugees to leave, while at the same time leading them to take further violent measures, which will only increase the flow of people looking to leave.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.