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
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: Gaza's hospitals recorded six deaths due to starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, all of them adults
Informed sources to Al Mayadeen: A new chapter in relations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will begin within the framework of the new law passed by Parliament

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

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

Damascus accuses Sweida factions of breaking ceasefire, sowing 'chaos'

"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

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
An explosion seen during an Iranian missile attack on Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

If Iran is attacked again, geography of response may change: IRGC spox

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

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