Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Damascus, criticized Israel’s military operations in Syria at a joint press conference held after the meeting.
Fidan said the operations were weakening Syria’s capacity and indirectly benefiting ISIS. He said the Israeli attacks were undermining policies aimed at establishing stability in Syria and strengthening state institutions.
“Israel is constantly targeting Syria’s capacity and thereby indirectly supporting ISIS. Israeli attacks are undermining policies aimed at stability and positive developments in Syria,” Fidan said.
Fidan also criticized Israel’s regional policies, saying the country was seeking to expand its territory at the expense of its neighbors. He additionally called for greater international pressure on the Israeli government.
The planned visit of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Damascus was also discussed at the meeting. Fidan said Turkish and Syrian officials had discussed the visit, but no date was given.
Speaking about the Syrian Democratic Forces, Fidan said that dissolving the group and fully integrating it into Syria’s state institutions would be an important step. He said all armed groups operating in Syria ultimately needed to come under state authority.
Fidan reiterated Türkiye’s support for the Syrian government and said counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries had advanced over the past two years.
Fidan also announced that Türkiye and Syria had agreed to establish a joint ministerial committee to accelerate cooperation across various sectors.