Erdogan slams Israeli strikes on Syria, says will not accept division
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey’s rejection of any division of Syria, condemned Israeli aggression, and stressed that a stable Syria is essential for regional peace.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives for a press conference after the plenary session at the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday, June 25, 2025 (AP)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared on Thursday that Turkey firmly opposes any attempts to divide Syria and reaffirmed Ankara’s commitment to preserving its territorial integrity amid escalating tensions following Israeli airstrikes.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Erdogan stressed that Syria's territorial unity is a cornerstone of Turkish policy.
“Protecting the territorial integrity of neighboring Syria is our fundamental policy. We have not accepted, and will not accept, the division of Syria,” Erdogan said.
He added that Turkey stands with the Syrian people in their quest for peace and stability, emphasizing, “Like the Kurdish citizens within our borders, the Kurdish people in Syria are also part of us. We want to see the Syrian people live in peace with all its segments. A stable Syria means stability in the region.”
Erdogan also accused "Israel" of fueling instability in the region through its recent aggression in Syria. “Over the past two days, Israel has expanded its banditry into Syria under the guise of [protecting] the Druze. Israel is a terrorist state that disregards law, justice, and principles,” Erdogan stated.
Latest updates in Syria
Syrian Arab Army units began withdrawing from the southern city of Sweida on Wednesday, marking the implementation of a ceasefire agreement reached between the Syrian state and senior Druze religious leaders in the province, according to the state-run SANA news agency.
The withdrawal follows an earlier announcement by the Interior Ministry confirming that a full ceasefire had been agreed upon after several days of armed clashes and heightened security tensions in the city.
However, the Israeli aggression on different regions of Syria continues despite efforts to de-escalate. Yesterday, the Trump administration was reportedly nearing a de-escalation agreement between Syria and the Israeli occupation, following a series of intense Israeli airstrikes on Damascus.
According to Axios, a senior US official confirmed on Wednesday that Washington is mediating efforts to prevent further escalation between the two sides.
Earlier on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters at the White House that he expected “progress toward de-escalation in the coming hours,” referring to heightened tensions triggered by Israeli strikes on Syrian military targets in the capital.
The diplomatic push comes as the US State Department publicly called on the Syrian government to withdraw its troops, particularly from southern regions such as Sweida, where fierce clashes resumed despite a ceasefire agreement announced earlier this week.
Read more: US urges 'Israel' to halt Syria airstrikes, Tel Aviv pledges to stop
