(AhlulBayt News Agency) - Russia’s ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, 62, was shot and killed in the capital Ankara while delivering a speech at an exhibition hall on Monday.
This heinous terrorist act is bound to have far-reaching implications in the region and globally and especially on the resolution of the Syrian conflict. The man who assassinated the Russian diplomat was identified as a 22-year-old Turkish riot police officer who shouted "Don't forget Aleppo" during the attack. He was later killed by security forces present at the exhibition hall.
The timing of the assassination was crucially important as it took place one day before the trilateral meeting between Iran, Turkey and Russia. This meeting aimed to start the political process of resolving the five-year conflict in Syria. An important factor is that this tripartite meeting was to be held in absence of Western and Arab countries. No doubt Western countries and especially Washington would not welcome such talks.
Targeting Moscow-Ankara Rapprochement
There a high probability that the assassination of Karlov aimed at derailing the process of a political resolution of the Syrian conflict and this is certainly not in the interest of regional actors such as Saudi Arabia and the Israeli regime.
Meanwhile, over the recent months there has been gradual rapprochement between Russia and Turkey which has seen Ankara changed some of its stance on Syria and therefor lead to a major breakthrough in resolving the country’s conflict and the crucial Aleppo victory. Thus the assassination of Karlov also targeted Moscow-Ankara relations.
Aleppo Liberation Infuriated Extremists
Another factor in the assassination of Russian ambassador to Turkey relates to the liberation of Aleppo by Syrian forces assisted by Russia and local allies. This victory infuriated extremist elements regionally and internationally including state actors. Western countries used all propaganda tools at their disposal to undermine the retaking of Aleppo by misleading global public opinion and claiming that residents in the key Syrian city are not happy with its liberation. The propaganda tactics also attempted to boost the morale of the dejected terrorists.
Ankara-Moscow viewpoints on Syria were getting closer especially after the two sides agreed on the evacuation of militants from Aleppo and also the rescue of civilians trapped in the besieged northwestern Syrian villages al-Fu'ah and Kafarya enclave. Several armed groups allied to Western and Arab states have expressed displeasure at the agreements reached between Ankara and Moscow and therefore this assassination was a way of expressing their presence and need to be recognized.
Turkey’s Security System Collapse
Over the last several months Turkey has witnessed several terrorist attacks targeting civilians and security forces and the latest incident where an ambassador of a foreign state was assassinated highlights the gradual collapse of the country’s security system. The assassination is a blow to all those who wish to see a stable and secure Turkey while foreign actors bent on damaging Turkey’s security and stability especially those behind the July coup are certainly celebrating the assassination of Russia’s ambassador.
Certainly Turkey’s economy is bound so suffer following the incident as tourists, especially Russian tourists, will avoid visiting the country thus denying it’s a major source of income.
The timing of assassination of Karlov reminds one of the attack on a Russian Airliner in Egypt when Moscow-Cairo ties were getting closer. The damaged the improving ties between Russia and Egypt and therefore a similar outcome is expected in the Ankara-Moscow rapprochement.
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