TLF EXCLUSIVE: Turkey Expands Influence in Aleppo Through Strategic Administrative and Economic Projects
According to information obtained by well-informed Turkish and Kurdish sources of The Levant Files, Turkey has launched an extensive campaign to establish control over strategic assets in Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city and former economic hub.
Documents allegedly prepared by Turkish officials outline a multi-layered approach combining administrative restructuring, economic investment, and security arrangements in the northwestern Syrian city. The strategy appears designed to leverage the power vacuum created by the weakened Syrian government and reduced Iranian influence in the region.
Aleppo holds significant economic and geographic value, situated at the crossroads of trade routes between Turkey and the Middle East. The city historically served as Syria's primary industrial center, making it a valuable asset for any party seeking influence in northern Syria.
The coastal region near Latakia and Tartus also features prominently in strategic calculations, as it hosts Russian naval facilities and represents a critical corridor for regional powers. Control of Aleppo potentially provides leverage over access routes to this strategically important coastline.
Administrative Restructuring
The documents describe plans to reorganize Aleppo's administrative institutions with Turkish oversight. Sources indicate that Turkey's intelligence services are working to establish new governance structures, with Turkish-appointed officials managing different city sectors.
Particular attention has been given to communication infrastructure, with reported installations of monitoring equipment at key locations throughout the city. These measures allegedly enable Turkish authorities to maintain oversight of local activities.
Beyond the Economic Integration
Turkish officials, including representatives from Antakya province, have reportedly conducted meetings with local business leaders to discuss economic development projects. Proposed initiatives include operating industrial facilities in Aleppo's industrial zone, with Turkish companies involved in 15-year agreements.
The business association MÜSİAD has been mentioned in connection with facilitating Turkish investment in the region. Infrastructure projects, including electricity and natural gas systems, are reportedly being developed to increase economic interconnection between Aleppo and Turkey.
The documents reference Turkey's engagement with various ethnic communities in Aleppo. Turkmen groups, including military factions such as Sultan Murad Brigade, reportedly play prominent roles in local security arrangements.
Regarding the Kurdish population, sources describe outreach efforts in neighborhoods like Sheikh Maqsoud and to tribal groups, with initiatives aimed at recruiting local personnel into security services aligned with the Damascus government rather than autonomous Kurdish administrations.
Military units operating in Aleppo, while nominally under Syrian defense structures, reportedly maintain close coordination with Turkish military advisors. The command structure and operational decisions allegedly involve significant Turkish input.
These developments occur amid broader regional realignments following years of conflict in Syria. Turkey has maintained a military presence in northern Syria since 2016, officially aimed at security concerns along its border. The extent of administrative and economic integration in Aleppo represents a potential expansion of this presence into urban governance and economic spheres.
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