Syrian official points at Turkey-backed Syrian rebels for Istanbul bombing

A senior Syrian official said he would not be surprised if one of the Syrian rebel groups supported by Turkey was behind the Istanbul bomb attack.

"Terror has no borders. The terror you support in Syria can hit you in Turkey," Pierre Marjane, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Syrian parliament said.

In an interview with Turkish Kisa Dalga news website, Marjane emphasized that they define the armed groups backed by Ankara on Syrian territory as “terrorists”.

A coalition of Turkey-backed armed Syrian rebel groups operating mainly in the north of Syria, supports Ankara in its fight against Kurdish groups in war-torn country. The Syrian National Army (SNA), formerly known as the Free Syrian Army, took part in Turkey’s military offensives into the region and is provided funding, training and military support by Ankara, according to several reports.

While Turkey accused Kurdish militants for the Istanbul bomb attack that left six casualties on Nov.13 and

launched an aerial offensive into Northern Iraq and Syria targeting Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its Syrian affiliate Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), the Kurdish groups denied involvement.

General Mozloum Abdi, the chief commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) last week said they had “absolutely nothing to do with the bombing.” In an interview with Al-Monitor, Abdi also said the Istanbul attack was “perpetrated by Syrian opposition groups operating under Turkey’s control.”

Syrian MP Pierre Marjane also told Kisa Dalga that Turkey should take concrete steps in order to maintain a basis for a dialogue between Ankara and Damascus.

“First of all, Turkey must admit that it has occupied Syrian territory by financing and training terrorist gangs. And secondly, it must show willingness that it is ready to withdraw from Syrian territory,” Marjane said in response to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent statements over reconciliation with Syria.