ANKARA – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani on Wednesday accused the Zionist entity of being one of the main actors behind the recent wave of violence in Suwayda, a province in southern Syria. “One of the main actors behind this dark picture has turned out to be Israel,” Fidan said during a joint press conference with al-Shaibani following their meeting. He added that the Zionist entity’s “expansionist policies” in the region extend into Syria as well.
Fidan emphasized that Türkiye supports Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while advocating for an inclusive political framework. “The new Syria should be a Syria where all peoples, beliefs, and cultures are preserved, and can live together. As Türkiye, we are making our recommendations in this direction,” he said, noting the need for governance that reflects the diversity of Syrian society.
For his part, al-Shaibani accused the Zionist entity of orchestrating the unrest in Suwayda, stating that “repeated threats from Israel target Syria’s sovereignty and endanger the security of our citizens.” He also condemned ongoing foreign interventions in Syria, describing some as “direct and seeking to weaken the Syrian state and create a fragile division.” The violence in Suwayda had escalated amid sectarian clashes and Zionist strikes, before an interim ceasefire was declared on July 19 by acting Syrian president Ahmad al-Sharaa.
