Fidan: No Terror Group Should Threaten Türkiye from Syria

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has asserted that no terrorist organization operating in Syria will be permitted to threaten Türkiye or other regional countries, emphasizing a firm stance on cross-border security during high-level diplomatic talks in Ankara. The declaration came during a joint press conference with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, highlighting ongoing coordination between the neighboring nations against common security challenges.

Minister Fidan specifically addressed the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), demanding the group relinquish its separatist objectives. "Under the guise of fighting ISIS, the SDF, which pursues a divisive agenda, must abandon this equation," Fidan stated. He emphasized that the group should not pretend to be reasonable while advancing a particular agenda, stressing that any solution must preserve Syria's territorial unity and serve mutual interests. The SDF is dominated by the YPG, the Syrian affiliate of the PKK terrorist organization.

The Turkish foreign minister called for a revised international approach to combating ISIS, noting the Syrian government's expressed willingness to conduct coordinated counter-terrorism operations. "We must all work together to support Syria in terms of the necessary capabilities and capacity to fulfill this will. Türkiye will continue to contribute to the development of the Syrian government's capabilities to fight ISIS," Fidan announced, signaling a practical partnership with Damascus in this sphere.

Fidan also identified Israel's repeated attacks on Syrian territory as a significant factor driving regional instability, describing the issue as a "national security concern" for Türkiye. He expressed particular concern about developments in Suwayda, noting that Israel's "unilateral operations, using Suwayda and our Druze brothers there as a pretext, are causing different negative repercussions in the region." He reaffirmed that sustainable peace in southern Syria depends on respecting the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity, a principle Türkiye continues to support.