A 5-kilometer ‘no-fly zone’ along Turkish border…Is Aleppo becoming the new Benghazi?

Sabah, a Turkish newspaper regarded as close to the government, revealed on Friday a joint plan between the Syrian opposition, Turkey and the Arab League to topple the Assad regime.      

The plan involves establishing a five kilometer no-fly zone along the Turkish border, south of Aleppo.         

The newspaper added that observers from the Arab League, expected to reach 500 in number, including UN personnel, will head to Syria. The observers’ report on Assad will be the first form of pressure exertion.      

The no-fly zone, which will initially be announced for a five kilometer-wide buffer zone south of Aleppo and under Turkey's supervision is expected to expand in time.   

The zone is anticipated to later encompass Aleppo and the city is expected to become the symbolic region of the struggle, just as Benghazi was in Libya. 

According to Sabah, the plan aims to widen the ring of Assad opponents within Syria, while also strengthening their plight coupled by the increasing division of the Syrian military.     

Ankara has set up certain conditions for the no-fly zone to be established with Turkey's support.These conditions are as follows:      

• A U.N. resolution must be released in order to establish the no-fly zone under international legitimacy.       
• The Arab League must support Turkey's stance and must act as leaders.     

• The EU and the USA must act as guarantors during this process and offer support.

Turkish officials refuted the report in a statement to Reuters on Thursday.  They denied that Syrian opposition representative had requested Turkey to make plans for a no-fly zone a few kilometers (miles) inside Syrian territory that would gradually be expanded to cover the city of Aleppo.