Eupherates of Syria (Aram) cut off by Turkey
- Jul 2, 2014
- 2 min read
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In May the Turkish government once again intervened in the Syrian crisis. This time was different from anything it had attempted before and the repercussions of which may bring unprecedented catastrophes onto both Iraq and Syria.
The Turkish government cut off the flow of the Euphrates River, threatening primarily Syria but also Iraq with a major water crisis. found out that the water level in Lake Assad has dropped by about six meters, leaving millions of Syrians without drinking water.
Violating international norms, the Turkish government recently cut off the water supply of the Euphrates River completely. In fact, Ankara began to gradually reduce pumping Euphrates water for over a month and half ago, then cut if off completely three weeks ago.
Security analysts in London and Baghdad say control of rivers and dams has become a major tactical weapon for ISIL. The outcome of the Iraq and Syrian conflicts may rest on who controls the region’s dwindling water supplies, say security analysts in London and Baghdad.
Rivers, canals, dams, sewage and desalination plants are now all military targets in the semi-arid region that regularly experiences extreme water shortages, says Michael Stephen, deputy director of the Royal United Services Institute thinktank in Qatar, speaking from Baghdad.
“Control of water supplies gives strategic control over both cities and countryside. We are seeing a battle for control of water. Water is now the major strategic objective of all groups in Iraq. It’s life or death. If you control water in Iraq you have a grip on Baghdad, and you can cause major problems. Water is essential in this conflict,” he said.
Isis Islamic rebels now control most of the key upper reaches of the Tigris and Euphrates, the two great rivers that flow from Turkey in the north to the Gulf in the south and on which all Iraq and much of Syria depends for food, water and industry.
Aleppo (Armenian – Arev – mening: The Sun City)
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