Türkiye has no intention of conflict in Syria: FM Hakan Fidan
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The Turkish Foreign Minister's statements as "Israel" threatens against Turkish presence in Syria, claiming that Ankara's role in Syria threatens its national security.
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Turkey's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, answers questions from media members during a press conference in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 (AP)
Türkiye maintains a non-confrontational approach in Syria but stands ready to take preventive measures against security threats, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Wednesday.
"We have no intention of conflict in Syria," Fidan said, emphasizing that Ankara "cannot remain spectators," to instability in the region that could threaten its national security. "When necessary, we will take preemptive measures to neutralize problems before they escalate," Fidan added.
The minister criticized "Israel" for the "systematic destruction" of Syrian airbases over the past four months, condemning the campaign as unjustifiable while pointing out that this deliberate targeting of military facilities has been ongoing since President Assad left, as he observed.
Fidan highlighted the deepening cooperation with Syria in various fields, framing it as an expected progression given their neighboring relationship, while stressing that numerous sectors demand collaborative efforts and expressing Türkiye's willingness to engage in any partnership aligning with shared security objectives, he stated.
Addressing Middle East tensions, Fidan proposed that the US establish defined limits for "Israel's" Netanyahu government, drawing parallels to Donald Trump's electoral pledges to address both the Palestinian and Ukrainian crises while expressing optimism about potential advancements in these two areas, he remarked.
While strongly criticizing Israeli military actions, Fidan simultaneously recognized the practical necessities of Türkiye's ongoing Syrian deployment, disclosing that technical coordination with Israel occurs periodically every few months when required to avoid aerial confrontations.
Fidan also emphasized the intricate operational landscape where Turkish, Russian, Iraqi, and Israeli military forces all maintain active presences.
In this context, an Israeli official told Channel 12 that "Israel" plans to create a coordination system with Turkey, modeled after the previous arrangement used with Russia during its operations in Syria.
'Israel' attacks Syria
Israeli attacks on Daraa on Wednesday resulted in nearly 20 casualties, including both dead and wounded, while Israeli helicopters were reported flying intensively over the area.
The Israeli military acknowledged facing resistance during its operations in Syria, with a spokesperson stating that "the army encountered some saboteurs."
An Israeli media platform reported "unusual events" near the Syrian border, citing clashes between Israeli forces and what it called "Syrian saboteurs." The report suggested that Israeli troops may have fallen into an ambush in Daraa but did not provide details on casualties or losses among Israeli forces.
Coinciding with this escalation, local sources reported an Israeli incursion with a number of armored vehicles into the Jabaliya Dam forest in the western Daraa countryside. Israeli artillery has also renewed its shelling on the surrounding areas of Tal Jumu, located between the town of Nawa and the village of Tsil in the western Daraa countryside.
In the early hours of Thursday, an attempted Israeli advance near the city of Nawa in Daraa governorate was met with armed resistance from locals, who took up arms to repel the expanding Israeli incursion into Syrian territory.
According to our local sources, mosques in Nawa called for a general mobilization to confront the intensified Israeli incursion into Nawa and Jasem. Meanwhile, Israeli helicopters heavily patrolled the area's airspace.
