Ankara, Turkey – Ankara affirmed that bilateral relations with the Syrian capital, Damascus, are continuously developing and deepening. It also emphasized that any threat to Syrian territory is considered a direct threat to Turkish national security. This came during a joint press conference held by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Syrian counterpart, Asaad al-Sheibani, in Ankara. Fidan stressed the necessity for all armed elements in Syria to lay down their weapons. Furthermore, he called for concerted efforts to establish stability in southern Syria and to halt the repeated Israeli attacks.
Fidan blames Israel for obstructing peace
The Turkish minister held the Israeli government fully responsible for obstructing peace efforts. He asserted that its ongoing attacks aim to undermine Syria’s security and sever the Palestinians’ connection to Gaza. Furthermore, he stated that the attacks are intended to perpetuate hostilities in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem. He called on the international community to pressure Tel Aviv to respect Syria’s territorial integrity and withdraw from the Gaza Strip. He warned that expansionist policies have caused a humanitarian catastrophe in Lebanon. He emphasized that the continuation of these attacks demonstrates Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s intransigence and rejection of peace.
Al-Shaibani: Syrian commitment to restricting weapons and combating terrorism
For his part, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani affirmed Damascus’s unwavering commitment to ending the presence of any weapons outside the control of the state and to combating terrorism in full coordination with the Turkish side. Al-Shaibani indicated that a unified Syria, free of terrorist organizations, represents the “ideal bulwark” for protecting the shared border between the two countries. He also reiterated his country’s support for the negotiation process and avoiding a slide into regional escalation. He stressed the necessity of halting Israeli attacks in southern Syria. This reflects Damascus’s keenness to strengthen cooperation with Türkiye to confront shared security challenges.
Regional talks on US-Iranian negotiations
Regarding regional developments, the two ministers discussed the Iranian-American issue. Fidan expressed Turkey’s satisfaction with the resumption of negotiations. He also emphasized the importance of ensuring freedom of international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the continued flow of oil supplies. For his part, Al-Shaibani condemned any military strikes targeting Gulf Arab states and called for de-escalation. Fidan concluded by stressing that the US-Iranian tensions have diverted attention from the Palestinian issue, which remains central to regional stability.
