Turkish backed Syrian opposition leader attacked during protest

A Syrian opposition leader on Friday barely escaped from angry crowds during a demonstration in Azaz city of Northern Syria where hundreds of people loyal to the rebel forces protested Turkey’s reconciliation with the Syrian regime.

Videos posted on Twitter showed Salem el-Meslet, head of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces hardly taking refuge in his car with the help of his aides, from outraged protestors who yelled “betrayer” and threw punches at him. Meslet got away without any injuries but his car was badly damaged, local media said.

Mr. Salem Al Meslet, chairman of the pro Turkish “Syrian National Coalition” was repressed today by the Syrian population in northern Syria upset of Türkiye rapprochement with Assad regime: pic.twitter.com/wGRmJ266Yg

— Nagi N. Najjar (@NagiNajjar) January 13, 2023

Ever since Turkey began efforts to establish diplomatic ties with Syria, areas controlled by Turkish-backed opposition forces in the North saw demonstrations which rejected any rapprochement with the regime. During Friday’s demonstration, protestors raised placards reading: "We will not reconcile… We will return the revolution to its first days… Down to all of the opposition coalition members."

Salem el Meslet was one of the members of the Syrian opposition delegation which held a recent meeting with Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara to convey increasing discontent in Northern Syria after Turkish and Syrian defense ministers met in Moscow.