Turkish expert: Syrian-Armenian terrorists persist in destabilizing Syria

Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Syrian-Armenian militants have escalated their efforts to destabilize the country, according to Tugce Tecimer, an analyst at the Ankara-based Center for Eurasian Studies (AVIM).

Tecimer emphasized that the Assad regime’s close relationship with Armenian authorities directly influenced terrorist groups operating in Syria. She cited the formation of the “Nubar Ozanyan Brigade” on April 24, 2019, as an example. The brigade operates under the Syrian wing of the PKK-affiliated YPG, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

“The leaders of the ‘Nubar Ozanyan Brigade’ declared their mission to be the ‘protection of Syrian Armenians’ and ‘defense against Türkiye.’ In recent years, dozens of terrorists from this group have been active in the Syrian regions of Hasakah, Ras al-Ayn, and Amuda,” the AVIM analyst noted.

The Turkish expert pointed out that the "Nubar Ozanyan Brigade" faced no resistance from the Assad regime and began taking steps to destabilize the country amid the change in Syrian leadership.

She further stated that, according to certain reports, militants from this brigade were transferred to Armenia during the 44-day war to participate in military operations against Azerbaijan. After Assad fled Damascus, they declared on December 19 their "unwavering commitment to defending Syria."

Tecimer emphasized that claims of friendship between Bashar al-Assad and the Armenian authorities were not limited to rhetoric. "It is no coincidence that in 2019, a group of 100 Armenian military personnel arrived in Aleppo, Syria, from Armenia," she reminded.

Tecimer expressed confidence that the only way to normalize the situation in Syria is to minimize terrorist activities and ensure control over the entire territory of the neighboring country by armed forces loyal to the new administration in Damascus.

By Vugar Khalilov