Erdogan, Bin Salman back Syria in phone call with al-Sharaa
3 Min Read
Turkey and Saudi Arabia voiced firm support for Syria following deadly Israeli airstrikes on Damascus.
-
A torn Syrian flag waves at the Syrian Defense Ministry building which heavily damaged after alleged Israeli airstrikes in Damascus, Syria, Wednesday, July 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
Turkey and Saudi Arabia have declared their support for Syria following a deadly wave of Israeli airstrikes that struck the heart of Damascus, killing civilians and damaging strategic government sites in what observers call a blatant act of aggression.
On Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone call with Syrian transitional leader Ahmad al-Sharaa to address the rapidly deteriorating security situation. Erdogan condemned the Israeli strikes as "unacceptable" and warned that they pose "a threat to the entire region." He affirmed Turkey's position: "We stand with Syria," according to a statement by Ankara's communications office.
In a parallel development, al-Sharaa spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who praised Syria's efforts to de-escalate the situation and restore order in the south. The Saudi leader reiterated his rejection of "Israeli aggression and external interference," calling for regional solidarity in defending Syria's sovereignty and unity.
Zionist escalation
The Israeli missile barrage, which targeted the Syrian General Staff Headquarters and the Tishreen Presidential Palace, killed three civilians and injured at least 34 others. Observers described the assault as a continuation of Tel Aviv's decades-long campaign to destabilize sovereign nations in the region through military force and proxy wars.
In a public address later that day, al-Sharaa warned of long-term Israeli ambitions: "Since the fall of the previous regime, the Israeli entity has sought to turn our land into a permanent battleground. We will not allow it to divide our people or tamper with our unity."
"We were faced with two options," he said, "either a full-scale confrontation or giving societal leaders the space for dialogue. We chose to protect the homeland."
Read more: Araghchi slams Israeli aggression on Syria, warns of escalation
Druze resistance
The president also affirmed that the protection of the Druze community is a national priority, announcing coordination with local factions and religious leaders in Sweida to restore stability after a week of violence. "Our people are the true custodians of this land," he stated, adding that Syrian unity will not be broken by Israeli plots.
Though Damascus managed to broker a ceasefire in Sweida, with army units withdrawing from the area, internal fractures remain. While some Druze leaders have welcomed the truce, others, like Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, have vowed to continue resistance against forces they label as government-backed militias complicit in Israeli-backed agendas.
Despite these challenges, Syria's leadership remains defiant. "There is no place for others' ambitions on our land. We will restore Syria's dignity and must put national interest above all else," al-Sharaa declared, accusing "Israel" of attempting to derail Syria's recovery by exploiting sectarian tensions and engineering chaos through airstrikes and covert dealings.
