Erdogan Issues Stern Warning to Syria’s Government Amid Rising Tensions

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warns Syria’s government over escalating tensions, emphasizing Turkey’s readiness to act in defense of its interests and regional stability.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that Ankara is dedicated to maintaining Syria’s territorial integrity and seeks a resolution to the conflict aligned with the “legitimate wishes” of the Syrian people.

During a joint press conference with Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic, Erdogan addressed the recent resurgence of conflict in Syria last week. Islamist militants from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other groups initiated a large-scale offensive moving from Idlib province towards Aleppo, Hama, and Homs.

“Our utmost desire is for Syria’s territorial integrity and national unity to be maintained, and for the conflict to conclude with an agreement that aligns with the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people,” Erdogan stated on Monday, as reported by Turkish media.

Erdogan stated that recent events have “verified and validated” Türkiye’s correctness.

Turkey’s foreign minister and the head of national intelligence are engaged in “ongoing consultations” with their counterparts, Erdogan mentioned, highlighting that Ankara is “consistently monitoring developments on the ground.”

At the same time, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan seemed to attribute responsibility for last week’s jihadist offensive to the government in Damascus.

“The resumption of large-scale conflict in Syria is due to the country’s interconnected problems remaining unresolved for over 13 years,” Fidan stated during a press conference with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi.

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According to Fidan, President Bashar Assad’s government erred by disregarding the opposition’s legitimate demands and not participating in the political process.

“We have consistently backed the safeguarding of Syria’s territorial integrity and unity, and we will continue to do so,” Fidan stated.

In 2017, Türkiye, Iran, and Russia signed an agreement to uphold Syria’s territorial integrity and work towards ending the conflict initiated by anti-government rebels in 2011. President Erdogan referenced the Astana Process—named after Kazakhstan’s capital where the deal was brokered—as justification for Türkiye’s intervention in Syria during spring of 2020 when Syrian forces advanced on Idlib, a stronghold of remaining militants. A ceasefire was eventually negotiated between Moscow and Ankara that required Türkiye to distinguish “legitimate opposition” from al-Qaeda-linked terrorists like HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham).

Last week’s unexpected assault by HTS and its allies enabled them to enter Aleppo for the first time since 2016, forcing government troops to retreat towards Hama and Homs. The Russian expeditionary forces in Syria have supported Damascus by continuously launching air strikes against the militants.