Turkey: Patriotic sentiment on display amid Syria operation

National soccer team players give military salutes during international matches, Turkish flags flutter from balconies and storefronts, songs extolling the glory days of the Ottoman Empire blare from a border town's loudspeakers, punctuated by the occasional boom of outgoing artillery.

Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighboring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high — as has bewilderment and anger at the overwhelmingly negative international reaction to Ankara's actions.

"At times of this kind of Turkish operation, we as Turkish people feel prouder about our nation," said Cuma Gunay, a 47-year-old supermarket owner in the town of Akcakale, which sits on the border with Syria.

FILE-In this Monday, Oct. 14, 2019 file photo, Turkey's players salute as they celebrate a goal against France during the Euro 2020 group H qualifying soccer match between France and Turkey at Stade de France at Saint Denis, north of Paris, France. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high, with the National soccer team players giving military salutes during international matches among the outward signs of nationalism. (AP PhotoThibault Camus, File)

A Turkish flag hangs above his shop entrance, and he keeps another behind his desk. "We are proud of our flag, that's why we hang it on our homes and shops. And it's also to support the Turkish army for our fight in Syria."

His town has been hit by mortars since the Turkish offensive began, causing damage but no deaths, although there have been 20 civilian deaths elsewhere inside Turkey from mortar attacks. Turkish-backed Syrian fighters occasionally drive across the border from the battlefield, flashing victory signs and chanting "Allahu Akbar" — God is Great — from the back of their pick-up trucks.

Just across the border lies the Syrian town of Tal Abyad, which fell to Turkish-backed forces on Sunday, although sporadic fighting has continued and Turkish forces were still firing artillery from Akcakale Tuesday.

In this Monday, Oct. 14, 2019 photo, Abbas Gulenc, 60, a council member of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Justice and Development party (AKP) gathers with others in a show of support for Turkey's operation in Syria, beside a poster of Erdogan, in the border town of Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, FILE)

News that Tal Abyad had fallen, announced on state-run media even as shelling continued, led to a flurry of random jubilatory events on the Turkish side of the border. Small convoys of flag-draped cars drove through the dusty streets, horns blaring; gaggles of flag-waving men posed and cheered for television cameras.

"I am overwhelmed by the joy of this achievement. But this achievement should be known by the whole world," 60-year-old Abbas Gulenc, a council member for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party, said at one such event. He spoke beside a giant poster of Erdogan, who he said "is the real leader of the whole Muslim world and we all love him."

Turkish troops and Turkish-backed Syrian fighters launched their offensive against Kurdish forces in northern Syria on Oct. 9, two days after President Donald Trump suddenly announced he was withdrawing American troops from the area. Erdogan has said he wants to create a 30-kilometer (20-mile) -deep "safe zone" inside Syria.

FILE-In this Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019 file photo, a child stands across from a building damaged by a mortar fired from inside Syria, in the border town of Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high, with national emblems being proudly displayed. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)

Ankara has long argued the Kurdish fighters are nothing more than an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which has waged a guerrilla campaign inside Turkey since the 1980s and which Turkey, as well as the U.S. and European Union, designate a terrorist organization.

But the offensive has led to an international outcry, causing tens of thousands to flee their homes and upending alliances in Syria's eight-year war. Having suddenly lost U.S. support, the Syrian Kurdish fighters have turned to Syrian President Bashar Assad to help them fend off Turkey's invasion, setting the stage for a potential military confrontation between Turkey and Syria.

Faced with a backlash, Erdogan launched a public relations offensive and blasted his critics, telling the EU he would "open the doors and send you 3.6 million refugees" if his Syria operation was described as an invasion.

FILE-In this Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019 file photo, taken from the Turkish side of the border between Turkey and Syria, in Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, smoke billows from targets inside Tal Abyad ,Syria during bombardment by Turkish forces. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high with many public signs of support for the military. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis)

That appears to have had little effect abroad. But at home many have rallied behind their president, and some appear genuinely taken aback by the international opprobrium raining down on Erdogan.

"Although Turkey is right to fight against terrorist organizations, European countries and America, all of them are against this operation and against Turkey. Why?" asked Gulenc, in a query often echoed in Akcakale. "Don't they know that this land is not owned by terrorist organizations? It's the land of Syria. So don't these countries know that America is bringing these terrorist organizations to this region for a purpose?"

All opposition parties, bar the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party, have voiced support for the offensive.

FILE-In this Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019 file photo, shortly after the Turkish operation inside Syria had started, local residents cheer and applaud as a convoy of Turkish forces vehicles is driven through the town of Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, at the border between Turkey and Syria. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high with many public signs of support for the military. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)

Criticism is not tolerated.

Last week, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said 121 people had been detained for social media posts critical of the incursion while some 500 people were under investigation for posts characterizing Turkey as an "invading" force and "insulting" the operation under Turkey's broad anti-terrorism laws.

There were dissenting voices within the main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, which many believe was forced to voice support to avoid being accused of having terrorist sympathies by Erdogan's ruling party. On Monday, authorities opened an investigation against CHP legislator Sezgin Tanrikulu over a series of critical tweets.

FILE-In this Friday, Oct. 11, 2019 file photo, Turkish police officers secure the area as a Turkish flag-draped mourner attends the funeral of ten-month-old Mohammed Omar Saar, killed during incoming shelling from Syria Thursday, in Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, at the border with Syria. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high with national emblems proudly displayed. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)

"While Turkey could have solved the Kurdish (issue) through dialogue, the government dragged Turkey to the swamp," Tanrikulu said. "War is death, war is pain, war is bloodshed."

There was also a backlash against Mustafa Akinci, president of the self-declared Turkish state in the ethnically divided island of Cyprus, who said although Turkey's offensive is named Operation Peace Spring, "what is being spilled is not water, it is blood." Erdogan was furious, saying Akinci "should know his place" and reminding the Cypriot politician he is in office "thanks to Turkey."

On Monday, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said there was widespread support for the operation.

FILE-In this Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019 file photo, a local resident looks out from a hole on a house that was damaged by a mortar fired from inside Syria, on the Turkish town of Akcakale, southeastern Turkey. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)

"Our people's support is a source of motivation for us," he said.

Suzan Fraser in Ankara contributed.

FILE-In this Monday, Oct. 14, 2019 file photo, a man kisses a poster of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during show of support by about a dozen people for Turkey's operation in Syria, in the border town of Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis)

FILE-In this Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019 file photo, a Turkish police armoured vehicle patrols the town of Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, at the border with Syria. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high with many public signs of support for the military. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)

FILE-In this Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 file photo a child flashes a hand gesture representing the Turkish far-right grey wolves organisation as he stands by a flag of Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) at the Turkish side of the border between Turkey and Syria, in Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high, with national emblems being proudly displayed. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)

FILE-In this Friday, Oct. 11, 2019 file photo, mourners carry the coffin of ten-month-old Mohammed Omar Saar, killed during incoming shelling from Syria Thursday, in Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, at the border with Syria. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)

FILE-In this Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019 file photo, shortly after the Turkish operation inside Syria had started, a Turkish soldiers stands at the border with Syria in Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high, with signs of the glory days of the Ottoman Empire among the outward signs of patriotism. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)

FILE-In this Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019 file photo, mourners carry the coffin of ten-month-old Mohammed Omar Saar, killed during incoming shelling from Syria Thursday, in Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, at the border with Syria. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high, with national emblems being proudly displayed. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)

FILE-In this Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019 file photo, shortly after the Turkish operation inside Syria had started, a convoy of Turkish forces vehicles is driven through the town of Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, at the border between Turkey and Syria. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high with many public signs of support for the military. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)

FILE - In this file photo dated Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, Gold medalist on the rings Ibrahim Colak of Turkey celebrates on the podium after the men's apparatus finals at the Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighboring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high with many outward sign of national pride on public display. (AP PhotoMatthias Schrader, FILE)

BEIRUT (AP) — The European Union announced Thursday an aid package for Lebanon of 1 billion euros — about $1.06 billion — much of which will go to boost border control to halt the flow of asylum seekers and migrants from the small, crisis-wracked country across the Mediterranean Sea to Cyprus and Italy.

The deal follows other EU aid packages for countries such as Egypt, Tunisia and Mauritania to fortify their borders. It comes against a backdrop of increasing hostility toward Syrian refugees in Lebanon and a major surge in irregular migration of Syrian refugees from Lebanon to Cyprus.

European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said during a Beirut visit with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides that the aid distribution will start this year and last till 2027.

The bulk of the aid — 736 million euros — would go to support Syrian refugees “and other vulnerable groups” in Lebanon, while 200 million euros are meant to bolster Lebanese security services in enforcing border and migration control, according to figures provided by the Cypriot government.

An unspecified amount would go to Lebanese fishermen, to discourage them from selling their boats to smugglers.

Von der Leyen said the EU will also work on a “more structured approach to voluntary return" of Syrian refugees "in close cooperation with” the U.N. refugee agency. The bloc will continue to maintain “legal pathways” for resettlement of refugees in Europe, she said.

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati praised the package, saying that “Lebanon’s security is security for European countries and vice versa,” and that an escalation of the crisis ”will not be limited to Lebanon but will extend to Europe."

Lebanon, which has been in the throes of a severe financial crisis since 2019, hosts nearly 780,000 registered Syrian refugees and hundreds of thousands more who are unregistered, the world's highest refugee population per capita.

Lebanese political officials have for years urged the international community to resettle the refugees in other countries or assist their return to Syria — voluntarily or not. Lebanese security forces have stepped up deportations of Syrians over the past year.

Tensions further flared after an official with the Christian nationalist Lebanese Forces party, Pascal Suleiman, was killed last month in what military officials said was a botched carjacking by a Syrian gang. The incident prompted outbreaks of anti-Syrian violence by vigilante groups.

Meanwhile, Cypriot authorities complain the island nation has been overwhelmed by irregular migration of Syrian asylum seekers, many of them coming on boats from Lebanon.

The UNHCR in Lebanon said it had verified 59 “actual or attempted” departures by boats carrying a total of 3,191 passengers from Lebanon between January and mid-April, compared to three documented boat movements carrying 54 passengers in the same period last year. Usually, few boats attempt the much more dangerous crossing in the winter. In all of 2023, UNHCR recorded 65 boat departures carrying 3,927 passengers.

Cyprus has taken a new approach to halting the flow of migrants. Last month, it suspended processing of Syrian asylum applications, and human rights groups accused the Cypriot coast guard of forcibly turning back five boats carrying about 500 asylum seekers coming from Lebanon. Cypriot officials have denied this.

Bassel al-Shayoukh, a Syrian refugee from Idlib living in Lebanon since 2014, said his brother and several cousins and nephews were on one of the boats turned back. Now he wants to make the journey himself.

“In the beginning I thought that in a year or two the war would be over in Syria,” he said, but it dragged on, while in Lebanon “every year ... the situation began to get worse.”

Shayoukh said he fears being beaten by vigilantes or deported to Syria after Lebanese authorities declined to renew his residency permit.

His 17-year-old nephew, who declined to give his name fearing for his safety, said the Cypriot coast guard started making waves to push the boat he was on away. “I was terrified... I don’t know how to swim,” he said. “I thought we were going to die.”

The people on the boats “stayed three days without food or water” before turning back to Lebanon, the teen added.

Back in Lebanon, they were detained by the army; those registered with UNHCR were released and the others deported.

Mohammed Sablouh, a Lebanese human rights lawyer who works on refugee and migrant cases, says Lebanese authorities are deliberately “turning a blind eye" to the surge in migration to "pressure the international community.”

The Lebanese army did not respond to a request for comment on their measures to combat smuggling.

Thursday's aid announcement comes ahead of the annual fundraising conference for the Syrian crisis in Brussels later this month. After 13 years of civil war, donor fatigue has set in while the world’s attention is occupied by the humanitarian fallout of more recent conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

The Cypriot president said Thursday was a “historic day” and called for European officials to go farther and declare some areas of Syria safe for return.

“The current situation is not sustainable for Lebanon. It is not sustainable for Cyprus, it is not sustainable for the European Union,” Christodoulides said.

But not all Lebanese officials are convinced the European aid would solve the problem.

Lebanese Forces party head Samir Geagea told The Associated Press earlier this week that European authorities are mainly concerned “that the refugees don’t go to Europe."

"For us the problem is that we cannot have our country drowning in illegal Syrian refugees,” Geagea said, urging for Syrians to be sent back to either government or opposition-held areas of the neighboring country.

But Shayoukh says he has nowhere to go.

The Damascus government wants him for opposing Syrian President Bashar Assad, he said, while the Islamist group that now controls his hometown behaves "the same way as the regime’s intelligence services” in crushing dissidents.

Associated Press writer Menelaos Hadjicostis in Nicosia, Cyprus, contributed to this report.

Follow AP’s global migration coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/migration

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, center, speaks during his meeting with Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides, left, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, center, speaks during his meeting with Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides, left, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, center, welcomes Cyprus' president Nikos Christodoulides, left, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen before their meeting at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, center, Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides, left, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen pose for photograph at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, right, welcomes Cyprus' president Nikos Christodoulides before their meeting at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides, left, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, center, review an honor guard upon their arrival to meet with the Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri, in Beirut, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, center, speaks during his meeting with Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides, left, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, center, welcomes Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides, left, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)