Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Sunday that recent clashes in Syria’s coastal provinces were an effort to derail the Syrian government’s policy of avoiding provocations, as Damascus works to consolidate control following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad.
Speaking in Amman, Jordan, at a summit of regional foreign ministers, Fidan urged Alawites, Christians, Druze, and Nusayris in Syria to refrain from involvement in any provocations.
The high-level meeting, attended by foreign and defense ministers, intelligence chiefs, and military leaders from Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria, focused on security cooperation, counterterrorism, and organized crime.
Fidan, alongside Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) chief Ibrahim Kalin, reiterated Turkey’s commitment to supporting Syria’s newly formed government and its efforts to stabilize the country.
“We do not support any initiative that undermines Syria’s stability,” Fidan said, emphasizing the protection of civilians’ lives, property, and cultural rights.
Escalating Clashes in Syria’s Coastal Provinces
Syria’s Latakia and Tartus provinces have witnessed coordinated attacks by former regime loyalists, the most intense violence since Assad fled to Russia on Dec. 8, ending six decades of Baath Party rule.
The attacks, targeting security patrols, checkpoints, and hospitals, resulted in casualties and injuries, prompting the new government’s security forces to launch a crackdown. Officials claim the situation is moving toward stability.
Ahmad al-Sharaa, who led opposition forces against Assad, was sworn in as Syria’s transitional president on Jan. 29.
Fidan described the summit as a historic meeting, saying regional countries must take ownership of their security challenges rather than allow them to escalate into global crises.
“When global actors intervene, we often face more problems than solutions,” he warned.
Regional Coalition Against ISIS and PKK
Ministers at the summit agreed to establish a joint operation and intelligence mechanism to combat ISIS, Fidan announced.
He also stressed the need for a unified stance against the PKK, which Turkey considers a terrorist organization alongside the United States and the European Union.
“The PKK is not just Turkey’s problem—it is Iraq’s, Syria’s, and even Iran’s,” he said, accusing the group’s Syrian branch, the YPG, of occupying one-third of Syria and controlling key energy resources.
While Turkey has neutralized the PKK threat on its own soil, Fidan said regional governments must take decisive action against the group’s presence in Syria and Iraq.
Next Steps and Turkish Support
Fidan reaffirmed Turkey’s strong commitment to fighting ISIS, citing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s determination to use all available resources to eliminate the threat.
He also praised the conciliatory approach of Syria’s new government toward minorities, noting that regional and external actors hoping for continued instability had been disappointed.
“There have been attempts to provoke unrest, but we are now seeing de-escalation,” he said.
Fidan also criticized international propaganda, which he said had negatively influenced events in Syria, urging caution against efforts to fuel further instability.
Turkey will host the next regional meeting, Fidan announced, as efforts continue to forge a stable and cooperative Middle East.
