Erdogan Warns Syrian Government
Türkiye has reiterated its dedication to Syria's territorial integrity, as Ankara responds to the Islamist militant offensive targeting government forces. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Ankara has reiterated its support for Damascus but emphasized the need for the “legitimate opposition” to be acknowledged.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan affirmed Turkey's commitment to Syria's territorial integrity, advocating for a resolution to the ongoing conflict that aligns with the “legitimate wishes” of the Syrian populace. This statement came during a joint press conference with Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic, where Erdogan addressed the recent resurgence of violence in Syria. Last week, Islamist militants from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other factions initiated a significant offensive from Idlib province targeting Aleppo, Hama, and Homs.
“Our greatest wish is for Syria's territorial integrity and national unity to be preserved and for [the conflict] to end with consensus in line with the legitimate demands of the Syrian people,” Erdogan remarked on Monday, according to Turkish media sources.
Erdogan claimed that recent developments have “confirmed and certified” Turkey's position, noting that Türkiye's foreign minister and national intelligence chief are engaged in “continuous consultations” with their counterparts while Ankara “constantly monitors the process on the ground.”
In a related press conference, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attributed the resurgence of conflict in Syria to the unresolved issues that have plagued the country for over 13 years. He stated, “The reason for the resumption of large-scale conflict in Syria is that the country's interconnected problems have remained unresolved for more than 13 years.” Fidan criticized President Bashar Assad’s government for its “mistake” in ignoring the “legitimate demands of the opposition” and for not participating in the political process.
Fidan reinforced Turkey's stance, saying, “We have always supported the protection of Syria's territorial integrity and unity. We will support it from now on as well.”
In 2017, Türkiye, Iran, and Russia entered into an agreement aimed at preserving Syria’s territorial integrity and concluding the conflict that erupted due to anti-government protests in 2011. Erdogan mentioned the Astana Process, established in Kazakhstan's capital, which led to Turkish intervention in Syria during the spring of 2020 as the Syrian army neared the last significant militant stronghold in Idlib. Following that, Moscow and Ankara brokered a ceasefire requiring Türkiye to distinguish “legitimate opposition” from terrorists linked to al-Qaeda, such as HTS.
The recent unexpected assault by HTS and its allies enabled them to regain access to the city of Aleppo for the first time since 2016 and to push government forces further toward Hama and Homs. In response, the Russian military in Syria has provided support to Damascus through continuous airstrikes against the militants.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan affirmed Turkey's commitment to Syria's territorial integrity, advocating for a resolution to the ongoing conflict that aligns with the “legitimate wishes” of the Syrian populace. This statement came during a joint press conference with Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic, where Erdogan addressed the recent resurgence of violence in Syria. Last week, Islamist militants from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other factions initiated a significant offensive from Idlib province targeting Aleppo, Hama, and Homs.
“Our greatest wish is for Syria's territorial integrity and national unity to be preserved and for [the conflict] to end with consensus in line with the legitimate demands of the Syrian people,” Erdogan remarked on Monday, according to Turkish media sources.
Erdogan claimed that recent developments have “confirmed and certified” Turkey's position, noting that Türkiye's foreign minister and national intelligence chief are engaged in “continuous consultations” with their counterparts while Ankara “constantly monitors the process on the ground.”
In a related press conference, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attributed the resurgence of conflict in Syria to the unresolved issues that have plagued the country for over 13 years. He stated, “The reason for the resumption of large-scale conflict in Syria is that the country's interconnected problems have remained unresolved for more than 13 years.” Fidan criticized President Bashar Assad’s government for its “mistake” in ignoring the “legitimate demands of the opposition” and for not participating in the political process.
Fidan reinforced Turkey's stance, saying, “We have always supported the protection of Syria's territorial integrity and unity. We will support it from now on as well.”
In 2017, Türkiye, Iran, and Russia entered into an agreement aimed at preserving Syria’s territorial integrity and concluding the conflict that erupted due to anti-government protests in 2011. Erdogan mentioned the Astana Process, established in Kazakhstan's capital, which led to Turkish intervention in Syria during the spring of 2020 as the Syrian army neared the last significant militant stronghold in Idlib. Following that, Moscow and Ankara brokered a ceasefire requiring Türkiye to distinguish “legitimate opposition” from terrorists linked to al-Qaeda, such as HTS.
The recent unexpected assault by HTS and its allies enabled them to regain access to the city of Aleppo for the first time since 2016 and to push government forces further toward Hama and Homs. In response, the Russian military in Syria has provided support to Damascus through continuous airstrikes against the militants.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
