MSB sources: Syria requested official support from Turkey
Ministry of National Defense sources announced that the Syrian administration has requested official support from Turkey on strengthening its defense capacity and combating terrorism, and that training and technical support studies continue in this context. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, on the other hand, issued harsh warnings against the attempts to divide Syria.
Ministry of National Defense (MSB) sources said, "Official support has been requested from Turkey by the Syrian administration within the scope of strengthening its defense capacity and fighting all terrorist organizations, especially DAESH. In line with this demand, we continue to work to provide training, consultancy and technical support to increase Syria's defense capacity," he said.
MSB sources answered the questions of the members of the press after the weekly press briefing held at the Istanbul Expo Center due to the "IDEF 2025 17th International Defense Industry Fair".
Answering questions about the clashes in the Syrian city of Suewda and Israel's attacks on Damascus, the sources stated that the recent attacks that Israel has intensified have increased the tensions between the Druze community and the Damascus administration, especially in the southern Suewed region.
The sources emphasized that Turkey maintains its determined stance towards protecting the territorial integrity of Syria, ensuring stability and combating terrorist organizations and noted the following:
“As the Ministry of National Defense, we work in close cooperation with the new government of Syria. Official support has been requested from Turkey by the Syrian administration within the scope of strengthening its defense capacity and fighting all terrorist organizations, especially DAESH. In line with this official support request, we continue to work on providing training, consultancy and technical support to increase Syria's defense capacity. Turkey's primary goal is to support Syria's political unity and territorial integrity, and to lead the efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region.”
Integration of SDG
On questions about the integration of the SDF into the Syrian administration, ministry sources said: “As the Ministry of National Defense, we have repeatedly stated before that the protection of Syria's territorial integrity and sovereignty rights is indispensable for our country and regional stability. In this context, seeing the reflections on the field of the issues agreed up between the Syrian Government and the SDF terrorist organization on March 10 will contribute to the stability in question. The terrorist organization SDF has to show concretely that it has complied with the agreement it has made with the Damascus government. The developments on the subject are closely followed with our relevant institutions."
Statement from Fidan to Syria
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also stated yesterday that Israel is trying to divide Syria and warned all groups in Syria that they will intervene if they try to divide the country.
Fidan spoke at the joint press conference held after his meeting with El Salvador Foreign Minister Alexandra Hill at the Ministry about the events in Suezda and Israel's attacks on Syria.
Fidan said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's interests lie in the chaos of the Middle East, but they will not allow it as the countries of the region, and said that they oppose the disruption of Syria's territorial integrity and political unity.
Stating that the international community agreed to give an opportunity to the new Syrian government, Fidan said, "There are also actors in the region that do not want Syria to be a strong and stable country that has fully ensured its territorial integrity, can use its sovereignty, develop its economy, take back its refugees, rebuild its infrastructure. Israel is at the forefront of these," he said.
Fidan claimed that the clashes between the Druze and the Bedouins could be ended by the central government holding elements in the region. Pointing out that Israel has put forward a plan under the pretext of the Druze, Fidan stated that Turkey and the regional countries cannot remain silent about Israel's actions.
Fidan emphasized that the aim of some countries is to create an environment that is unstable, weak, producing more mass migration, terrorism and crime to the region by dividing Syria into at least 4 parts, and said, "I hope we will prevent this policy from being implemented and we will ensure that an honorable life of our own virtuous stance, stability, the security of life and property, the right to sovereignty of everyone is provided, freedom."
Accusation against Al-Hijri as "Israel's deputy"
Stating that both Druze and Bedouin leaders took important steps to overcome the crisis in Suezda, Fidan said, "Except for one, he is one of the Druzi, whose name is known person Al Hijri (Druze leader Hikmet al-Hijri). He really treats Israel as a deputy. It has shown an attitude such as not approaching any solution, mediator, offer that makes stability and peace possible. But a certain point has been reached right now," he said.
Fidan warned all groups in Syria: “Do not know such chaos as small and tactical opportunities for yourself. Always keep in mind that you are going to a big strategic disaster while shooting these small tactical successes. Always remember that a game that someone else has put forward will not benefit you. Aim to be the honorable, equal, safe individuals of the land you belong to. Do not be in a perspective that was created with the help of someone else, trying to extract autonomy from chaos established on blood, trying to gain independence, and that is ready to burn and destroy everything for this. If you go towards division and destabilization, we will perceive it as a direct threat to our national security and intervene."
Stating that the actions of the groups in Syria "have nowhere to go", Fidan said, "It's time to integrate. It must now be removed from the fact that there is an ideology used by the dominant forces in these lands, a signal that the ideas that began to form in the 18th-19th century, a lot of blood was spilled, and now outdated ideas still used by the dominant forces mobilized. When you don't go out, we know how to remove them.”