SYRIA/TURKEY: Syrians crossing into Turkey voice their doubts over possible U.S. strikes, as President Barack Obama wins backing for a strike from key figures in the U.S. Congress.

Record ID: 274437

  • Title: SYRIA/TURKEY: Syrians crossing into Turkey voice their doubts over possible U.S. strikes, as President Barack Obama wins backing for a strike from key figures in the U.S. Congress.
  • Date: 4th September 2013
  • Summary: ATMAH, SYRIA (AS FILMED FROM TURKEY) (SEPTEMBER 4, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MAKESHIFT TENTS WHERE DISPLACED SYRIANS ARE LIVING CILVEGOZU, TURKEY (SEPTEMBER 4, 2013) (REUTERS) GATE AT TURKEY/SYRIA BORDER SYRIAN WOMAN WALKING NEAR BORDER GATE TURKISH FLAG FLYING SYRIANS CROSSING BORDER INTO TURKEY SYRIANS QUEUING AT BORDER CUSTOMS SIGN OF CILVEGOZU BORDER GATE ACROSS SYR
  • Embargoed: 19th September 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey, Syrian Arab Republic
  • City:
  • Country: Turkey Syrian Arab Republic
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA2Z7AP1QZRLYVV96A04JQS52J7
  • Story Text: Syrians crossed into Turkey on Wednesday (September 4) ahead of a potential U.S. strike against Syria in response to what the U.S. administration said was a sarin gas attack by the Syrian government that killed more than 1,400 people near Damascus on August 21.
    On Tuesday (September 3), leaders of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee said they had reached an agreement on a draft authorization for the use of military force in Syria.
    Among other provisions, the draft, which was obtained by Reuters, sets a 60-day limit on military action in Syria, with a possibility for a single 30-day extension subject to conditions.
    It also includes a provision banning any use of U.S. armed forces on the ground in Syria, according to the draft document, which is due to be voted on by the committee on Wednesday.
    Syrians who were fleeing their country voiced doubt over U.S. intentions.
    "We don't believe anyone. We don't trust anyone. We have no faith in either a U.S. strike or the others. All of this is nothing but a lie. The only truth is that our country is destroyed and nobody cares for us. We have left Syria for good," Syrian citizen Abu Bakir said.
    "Everyday they change their mind and they are playing with us, with our feelings. What we can do? Today they want to interfere and tomorrow they don't. This provides the regime an opportunity to hide its crimes. When you look at it this way, this is a strike against us. So, at the end of the day, everybody helps the regime," Syrian citizen Adel Ahmad added.
    On Wednesday, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan reiterated that Turkey would take part in any international coalition against Syria, but stopped short of saying whether that would include military action.
    The U.N. High Commission for Refugees said there had been a near tenfold increase over the past 12 months in the rate of refugees crossing Syria's borders into Turkey, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon - to a daily average of nearly 5,000 men, women and children.
    This has pushed the total number of Syrians living abroad to more than 2 million.
    That represents some 10 percent of Syria's population, the UNHCR said.
    With a further 4.25 million estimated to have been displaced but still resident inside the country, close to one third of all Syrians are living away from their original homes.
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