Ankara: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned on Wednesday that Israeli occupation is responsible for the destabilizing policies in Syria's Suwayda, urging People Protection Units (YPG) to stop posing a threat to Turkiye and the region. Speaking at a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani, Fidan pointed out destabilization and disruption efforts targeted at Syria.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Fidan identified Israel as a significant actor behind the events in Suwayda. He emphasized the importance of supporting Syria, stating that the country's future should ensure coexistence among all communities, beliefs, and cultures. Regarding the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and YPG, Fidan noted that these groups have not ceased armed activities, urging them to remove themselves as a threat to Turkiye and the region. He stressed that Ankara cannot remain passive in an environment where its security demands are unmet and called for continued cooperation with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, and Iraq in supporting Syria.
Al-Shaibani, on his part, rejected the recent conference organized by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in al-Hasakah, describing it as a violation of the March 10 unity deal and an attempt to exploit the unrest in Suwayda. He underlined that dialogue is essential to address challenges and, along with Fidan, stressed the importance of coordination on security and military matters to protect borders and combat terrorism.
A high-level Syrian delegation arrived in Ankara on Wednesday for official talks, following Fidan's visit to Damascus last Thursday, where he met President Ahmad Al-Sharaa. This marks Fidan's third visit since the fall of Bashar Al-Assad's regime in December 2024.