Turkey says seeks to avoid confrontation with 'Israel' in Syria
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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says his country does not want a confrontation with the Israeli occupation in Syria amid escalating Israeli aggression.
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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks to media before a joint press conference for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, February 4, 2025 (AP)
Turkey does not seek confrontation with the Israeli occupation in Syria, but repeated Israeli strikes on military facilities there are weakening Syria’s ability to counter threats, including those from the Islamic State (ISIS), Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Friday.
Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, Fidan accused the Israeli regime of fueling instability by attacking Syria, where the government of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa is a key ally of Turkey.
"We don't want to see any confrontation with Israel in Syria because Syria belongs to Syrians," Fidan stated, emphasizing that Syria’s security should be determined solely by its people.
Turkey, a NATO member, has been a vocal critic of the Israeli regime's actions in Gaza since 2023, stressing that it has been committing genocide against Palestinians. Ankara has also joined a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the Israeli occupation and halted all trade with the country.
Tensions escalate over Israeli strikes
The growing tensions between the two regional powers have extended into Syria, where Israeli airstrikes have intensified since a new administration took control in Damascus. While Turkey has condemned the strikes as violations of Syrian sovereignty, the Israeli occupation maintains that it will not tolerate hostile forces operating in Syria.
Fidan warned that Israeli attacks were systematically dismantling Syria’s defensive capabilities. In this "transition period", Fidan said, Turkey does not want to see Islamic State (ISIS) or the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group take advantage of "the absence of the regular forces, some absence of military capabilities" in Syria.
"Israel is taking out, one by one, all these capabilities that a new state can use against ISIS and other terrorist threats," he said. "What Israel is doing in Syria is not only threatening Syria’s security but also paving the way for future instability in the region."
While Turkey opposes Israeli military intervention in Syria, Fidan stated that if the new Damascus administration chooses to establish "certain understandings" with the Israeli regime, that remains Syria’s sovereign decision.
'Greatest threat to regional security'
Ankara condemned the Israeli occupation's actions in the region, calling it the "greatest threat" to regional security due to its attacks on the territorial integrity and national unity of neighboring countries, the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated on Thursday.
The ministry accused the Israeli occupation of fostering chaos, promoting terrorism, and undermining strategic stability. "For security to be established in the region, the Israeli occupation must first abandon its expansionist policies," the statement read.
Turkey also called on the Israeli regime to withdraw from the occupied territories and to cease obstructing efforts aimed at stabilizing Syria.
"It is crucial for the international community to take responsibility in preventing Israel’s reckless aggression," the ministry added, questioning why "Israel" was disturbed by developments in Syria and Lebanon that "hold great promise for stability."
The Turkish statement came in response to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who, during a press conference in Paris, expressed concerns over Turkey’s "negative role" in Syria, Lebanon, and other areas. "They are doing their utmost to turn Syria into a Turkish protectorate, and it is clear that this is their intention," Sa'ar hasaid.
