Turkey is preparing a de facto annexation of the city of Al-Bab (Syria), following the model of the Turkish Republic’s non-recognition of Northern Cyprus.

Step one: at the beginning of August, Ankara established a Chamber of Commerce in Al-Bab. Step two: Ankara has set up there a mobile telephone network, Turkcell. Step three: Ankara sent 1,500 Turkish police officers to maintain order over it.

Turkey needs Al-Bab so that it can set up its counterfeit workshops there without formally violating international law.

Translation
Anoosha Boralessa