Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
IRGC Commander Major General Mohammad Pakpour: As time passes, the people's solidarity increases, which is a divine blessing
IRGC Commander Major General Mohammad Pakpour: The Iranian Revolution Guard Corps' aerospace operations will not stop
Russian Foreign Ministry: IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi must ensure that an objective report is presented at the special session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Russian Foreign Ministry: The UN Security Council must respond to the US attacks on Iran
Russian Foreign Ministry: We strongly condemn the US strikes on Iran, calling the decision irresponsible
Iranian Red Crescent: Three personnel martyred, 29 injured in Israeli aggression
IRGC: We have identified and monitored the departure points of the US aircraft that carried out the aggression
IRGC: America has neither the initiative nor the ability to escape the consequences of a powerful response
IRGC: We strongly affirm that Iran's peaceful nuclear technology cannot be destroyed by any attack
Iran's IRGC: Washington has placed itself directly on the frontline of aggression by attacking peaceful facilities

Turkey and Syria step up contacts: Reuters

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Reuters
  • 15 Sep 2022 23:58
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

In an effort to strengthen ties between Turkey and Syria, Turkey's intelligence chief has held multiple meetings with his Syrian counterpart in Damascus.

  • x
  • Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and intelligence chief Hakan Fidan are seen before a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, August 24, 2018. Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo.
    Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and intelligence chief Hakan Fidan (Reuters)

The Turkish intelligence chief held multiple meetings with his Syrian counterpart in Damascus over the last few weeks, which indicates a sign of Russian efforts to encourage a thaw between the two states, four sources revealed. 

The head of Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MIT), Hakan Fidan, and the head of Syria's intelligence service, Ali Mamlouk, just recently met in the Syrian capital, according to a local source close to Damascus.

The most recent meetings - including a two-day visit by Fidan to Damascus at the end of August - had sought to lay the ground for sessions at a higher level, the source said.

Reuters quoted the regional source who is close to President Al-Assad as saying that the Turkish-Syrian contacts had made a lot of progress, without giving details.

A third regional source said Turkish-Syrian relations had begun to thaw and were advancing to a stage of "creating a climate for understanding."

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the contacts, which have not been publicly disclosed.

According to a senior Turkish official and a Turkish security source, as reported by Reuters, Fidan, one of President Tayyip Erdogan's closest confidants, and Mamlouk examined how the two nations' foreign ministers could eventually meet during the discussions.

Related News

UNHCR calls for more intl. support to accelerate Syria refugee returns

IOF storm al-Hurriya village in Quneitra

"Russia wants Syria and Turkey to overcome their problems and achieve certain agreements... which are in the interest of everyone, both Turkey and Syria," said the Turkish official, who stressed that one of the big challenges in the talks is Turkey's desire to include the Syrian armed opposition in any talks with Damascus, the official added.

While Fidan and Mamlouk have spoken intermittently over the last two years, the pace and timing of recent meetings suggest a new urgency to the contacts, according to Reuters.

Read next: Ankara orders 'Syrian Opposition Coalition' to leave Turkey

Yesterday, informed sources told Sputnik that a Turkish intelligence service "informed the members of the so-called 'Syrian Opposition Coalition' of the need to leave the Turkish territories by the end of this year."

The sources added that "this statement, which constitutes a turning point for this [political] entity, whose activities are based in Turkey, came after a political decision that was taken in Turkey recently against the background of the Syrian-Turkish rapprochement under the auspices of Russia."

Sputnik revealed that "President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government decided to close all offices of the opposition coalition in Turkey and to stop funding its members in accordance to a specific timetable that ends by the end of this year at the latest."

The sources added, "A number of members of the Syrian Opposition Coalition were informed by the Turkish security services that they need to find another place to carry out their political activity outside the Turkish territories and to end all political and media activities related to this coalition by the end of this year at the latest."

Read next: US, Turkish occupation of Syria must end: Syrian Defense Minister

  • Syria
  • Turkey
  • Russia
  • Damascus

Most Read

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)

Wave 12 of Operation True Promise 3 launched, Sejjil deployed: IRGC

  • Politics
  • 18 Jun 2025
Iran launches missile barrage to Tel Aviv, casualties reported

True Promise 3, wave 14: Tel Aviv targeted, casualties reported

  • Politics
  • 19 Jun 2025
Iran's heavy barrages impact multiple Israeli targets overnight

Iran's heavy barrages impact multiple Israeli targets overnight

  • Palestine
  • 18 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Iran’s Bavar-373 air defense system on display during a military drill (Mehr News Agency)
Politics

Iran intercepts Israeli drones near Tehran, multiple cities

The Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept missiles during an Iranian attack over Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran warns aid to 'Israel' will be treated as aggression

US President Donald Trump arrives to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Friday, June 20, 2025, en route to Montclair, New Jersey (AP)
Politics

Trump, Erdogan made covert attempts to hold talks with Iran: Axios

Ansar Allah supporters surround a giant Iranian flag during an anti-US and anti-'Israel' weekly rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 20, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US ships in Red Sea will be targeted if US attacks Iran: YAF

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS