Inside Free Syrian Army's Headquarters in Turkey

Turkish soldiers in a military vehicle patrol on the Turkish-Syrian border in the town of Reyhanli in Hatay province, where defectors from the Syrian army and their families often stay. (photo by REUTERS/Osman Orsal)

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By: Lale Kemal posted on Wednesday, Aug 22, 2012

Even though Turkey continues to deny reports that it has been setting up bases for the Syrian opposition — for example in Adana — it is no longer a secret that it is providing military support to the Syrian opposition.

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Summary: The Reyhanli refugee camp, close to Turkey’s border with Syria, might just be the most significant military outpost in the entire Syria conflict. Lale Kemal reports on the camp’s hosting of the Free Syrian Army and the internal disputes among officers and generals at risk of derailing the military assault on Assad. Publisher: Taraf (Turkey) Original Title: FSA Sets up Higher Military Council at Reyhanli Camp Author: Lale Kemal Published on: Tuesday, Aug 21, 2012 Translated On: Wednesday, Aug 22, 2012 Translator: Ceren Kenar Categories : Syria   Turkey

One of the centers in Turkey used as a military base for the Syrian opposition is the Reyhanli “military” refugee camp, located in Hatay province. This camp is exclusively reserved for Syrian officers, among them generals and colonels, and their families who have defected to Turkey. This camp, which hosts around 1,000 Syrians, is tightly guarded by Turkish security forces. Even foreign diplomats who want to meet the camp residents are not allowed to enter. However, it is possible to meet Syrian officers outside the camp and get information regarding the latest developments in Syria and the incidents taking place within this camp.
The camp is used by the Free Syrian Army (FSA) as a training center. The FSA’s website states its headquarters is located in Reyhanli and provides a list of the top commanders within the organization. Riad al-Assaad, since he was the first officer to defect to Turkey, is the top commander of the FSA. However, unrest has been palpable since the arrival of several defecting Syrian generals who don't like to be under the [lower-ranking] colonels running the camp.


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