Supporters of armed groups attack Turkish checkpoints in Idlib, Aleppo

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Thousands of supporters of armed groups took to the streets on Friday to protest against Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu for proposing reconciliation between the Syrian government and the opposition factions.

Turkey's top diplomat revealed on Thursday that he had a brief meeting with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad in October in Belgrade and that communication between the two countries intelligence agencies had resumed.

Cavusoglu added, "We have to somehow get the opposition and the regime to reconcile in Syria. Otherwise, there will be no lasting peace, we always say this."

Cavusoglu also stated that there must be strong administration in Syria to prevent any division of the country, adding that "the will that can dominate every corner of its lands can only be achieved through unity and solidarity."

حرق العلم التركي في سوريا pic.twitter.com/B3BmPPpor1

— طالب الراجحي (@talb_alrajhy) August 12, 2022

Supporters of the so-called Turkish-backed National Army took to the streets in major northern cities including Azaz, Al-Bab and Afrin to protest Cavusoglu's comments.

Some protesters burned a Turkish flag, while others removed Turkish flags displayed throughout major northern cities.

Meanwhile, armed groups summoned supporters to protest in major northern cities, which are under the control of Turkish forces, under the slogan: "No reconciliation”.

Activists confirmed that dozens of demonstrations took place in several areas of Idlib and Aleppo's countryside, emphasizing their rejection of Cavusoglu's proposal, which contradicts the Tukey's claims that the Syrian state is obstructing the country's political process. 

These protests demonstrate that armed groups are the impediment to any political process that leads to stability in the country and a resolution to the 11-year-long crisis.