Turkey Urges Diplomatic Solutions as Israeli Strikes Hit Syria

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made it clear on Friday that Turkey wants to avoid any confrontation with Israel in Syria. Still, he raised concerns that the ongoing Israeli attacks on Syrian military sites are weakening the new government in Damascus. Speaking to Reuters during a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels, Fidan said that Israel’s actions could lead to more instability in the region. Since taking power, Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa’s administration, which has strong ties with Turkey, has faced weeks of Israeli strikes, complicating Turkey’s operations in the area.

Fidan said that even though Syria’s possible deals with Israel are really “their own affair,” Ankara is still keen on stopping any escalation. As a NATO member, Turkey shares a border with Syria and has been deeply involved in the conflict there, supporting opposition groups against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces during the earlier phases of the war.

Since 2023, ties between Turkey and Israel have grown increasingly tense. Turkey has accused Israel of committing a genocide in Gaza and has suspended all trade between the two nations. Furthermore, Turkey has joined South Africa in a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning Israel’s military operations. Fidan has condemned the recent Israeli strikes in Syria, calling them “encroachment."

In the other regional rivalries at play, Turkey seems to be promoting a more cautious approach. When questioned about US President Donald Trump’s military threats against Iran, Fidan stressed the need for diplomatic solutions, saying that Ankara does not support any military action against Iran, its neighbor.