Drawing in the neighbours

BACK in 2011, when Bashar Assad started to slaughter Syrians protesting against his dictatorial rule, the neighbouring states of Turkey and Jordan were keen to stop the bloodshed. Mainly due to America’s reluctance to get embroiled in another messy Middle Eastern affair, neither acted. Four years later, both are once again giving serious consideration to wading into Syria.

 

Independently of one another, the countries’ officials are said to be planning to set up buffer zones along their borders just inside the war-torn country. Turkish papers talk of an area 110km long and 33km deep (70 miles by 20 miles) along Syria’s northern frontier. The Financial Times, citing anonymous officials, reports that Jordan plans to establish a haven across the provinces of Deraa and Suwayda in southern Syria. In the case of Jordan carefully vetted Syrian rebels, rather than foreign forces, would man the areas.

 

Read More: Drawing in the neighbours | The Economist