TURKEY-backed militants have been shouting “kill the pigs, kill the infidels”, as they target Syrian Christians to expel them from northern Syria.

There have been concerns in Christian villages about possible atrocities by Turkey-backed fighters, which include former jihadists, say reports.

7 Syrians refugees at the Bardarash camp, near the Kurdish city of Dohuk, in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region Credit: AFP or licensors

7 The Turkish assault on US-allied Syrian Kurdish militia began in October Credit: AFP or licensors

There are fears, too, that Christians will become the victims of ethnic cleansing, after Turkey carried out a brutal military operation against Kurdish fighters in the wake of President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of northeast Syria.

Ever since Turkey invaded the area, to drive out American-backed Kurdish forces, Christian communities have been living in fear that they will suffer as a consequence, reports VOA News.

For example, at the start of the offensive – in early October – a Turkish artillery assault was reported to have deliberately targeted a mainly Christian neighbourhood in Qamishli, a large city in northeastern Syria.

The Telegraph reports too that, on social media, there have been posts showing Syrian rebel fighters shouting “kill the pigs, kill the infidels” as they looked for the homes of Kurds who fled after Turkey’s military captured the key border town of Ras al-Ayn.

7 More than 1,200 refugee arrived at the camp on October 21 after fleeing the Turkish military operation in Syria Credit: EPA

7 Syrian refugees wait to receive aid and food supplies, at the Bardarash refugee camp in Iraq Credit: EPA

The chilling posts showed a man, in camouflage gear, spray-painting graffiti on doors to show fellow Syrian rebel fighters which homes belong to Christians, Kurds and Muslim Arabs, the paper adds.

The fighter boasted that he would scorch a Kurd’s house, burgle a Christian’s property – but treat any Muslim Arab’s home with respect, and leave it.

These and similar threats have been shared online by those fighting for the Syrian National Army, backed by Turkey.

They’re keen to plunder as many places as possible, and take advantage of those afflicted in the war-torn area.

The Telegraph says that its investigations show that many Kurdish residents have fled in fear from the fighters, to take refuge in neighbouring Iraqi Kurdistan.

It warns that evidence gleaned from the shocking posts on social media point to “deliberate demographic engineering being carried out by Turkey and its Syrian rebel proxies, that some claim amounts to ethnic cleansing.”

ISIS had persecuted Christians and displaced tens of thousands of them when it ruled large parts of Iraq and Syria.

THOUSANDS DISPLACED

But the extremists lost the last area of land in eastern Syria in March, marking the end of their so-called caliphate.

Christians made up about 10 per cent of Syria's pre-war population of 23 million, who co-existed with the Muslim majority and enjoyed freedom of worship under Syrian President Bashar Assad's government.

Most have left for Europe over the past 20 years, with their flight significantly gathering speed since the start of the current conflict in northeastern Syria.

The Associated Press says that the advance of Turkish-backed fighters in northern Syria since last month has led to the displacement of about 200,000 people.

That's despite Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying he wanted to create a so-called "safe zone" over a 75-mile stretch between Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ayn.

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Today, the Russian military said it was beefing up its forces in northeastern Syria - but hasn't explained why.

Russia's Defence Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said the military was providing additional military police units to carry out joint patrols with Turkey. He didn't elaborate further.

Last month, Russia and Turkey struck a deal in which Syrian Kurdish fighters would pull out of the frontier region.

They agreed to conduct joint patrols up to 10km (6 miles) from the border in the west and east of areas seized by Turkey during its military incursion in Syria.

7 Turkish Armed Forces' howitzers were deployed across the Syrian town of Tell Abyad Credit: Getty - Contributor

7 Boys stood at the back of a truck as they fled Ras-al-Ain town, Syria Credit: Reuters