Fidan Accuses Israel of Seeking to Destabilize Syria

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused Israel on Sunday, from Damascus, of seeking to “destabilize” Syria while continuing its strikes on the country, as his Syrian counterpart, Asaad al-Shaybani, reaffirmed commitment to a diplomatic solution.

The Turkish minister’s remarks came during an official visit to Syria, about a month after Israel bombed the decommissioned Abu al-Duhur airbase in northwestern Syria, citing the prevention of Turkish troop deployment there. Ankara denied sending any delegation to the base.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart, Fidan said, “While Syria is sending a message of great hope to the region and the world, a party suddenly emerges seeking to destabilize the country, and you know who this party is: Israel.”

Since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, Israel has launched hundreds of raids on Syria, focusing on military targets it claims are aimed at preventing the new authorities from acquiring the former army’s arsenal.

Israeli forces have ventured beyond the buffer zone adjacent to the Golan Heights, which Israel has occupied most of since 1967, reaching Mount Heron, which separates Lebanon and Syria, and announced its intention to establish a demilitarized zone in southern Syria. Israeli officials have repeatedly stated that their forces do not intend to withdraw from the area.

Syria announced last month that it held high-level talks with Israel in Jordan, addressing de-escalation following the strikes on Abu al-Duhur base.

At the press conference, the Syrian Foreign Minister stated that Syria’s position regarding Israeli escalation “entails the inevitability of Israeli withdrawal” from areas it infiltrated after Assad’s fall, and Damascus’s commitment to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.

Syria and Turkey have maintained close relations since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in late 2024, with Ankara among the first countries to open its embassies in Damascus. The two nations have also exchanged several official visits.

Both countries are also seeking to develop their ties in energy and trade. Al-Shaybani said the two nations are moving toward a “comprehensive strategic document that integrates gas, electricity, and grid interconnection pathways.”

For his part, Fidan announced an upcoming visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Syria, without specifying a date.