ANKARA

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Thursday it was time for national unity in Syria, calling on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to fulfill its responsibilities.

“In Syria, it is time for national unity. The SDF needs to do its part,” Fidan told a joint press conference with his Omani counterpart Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi in Ankara.

“Instead, its transformation into an actor that serves Israel’s ‘divide and rule’ policy in our region, in coordination with Israel, is unfortunately not a coincidence,” he added.

Fidan said recent developments in Syria’s northern city of Aleppo reflect warnings Ankara has repeatedly raised over the past year.

He said that if the PKK/YPG group, which operates under the name SDF, had moved forward with integration into Syria instead of attempting to buy time, the latest violence could have been avoided.

His remarks came as Syrian state media reported renewed clashes in Aleppo, where the Syrian army responded to SDF fire that killed at least five civilians and injured 33 others and one Syrian soldier.

Fidan stressed that the PKK/YPG’s approach of refusing to compromise wherever it operates and prioritizing its own interests has brought no benefit to anyone.

He said the Syrian government has begun recovering from years of conflict, strengthening its counterterrorism capacity and restoring its ability to deliver basic services to its population.

“We are monitoring the situation very closely. We are also in coordination and communication with our regional and national partners. What we want to see is stability and regional peace,” he said.

“We have no objective beyond that. However, Israel’s expansionist policies in the region present a picture that runs counter to this vision. In particular, they pursue a security strategy that feeds on division, chaos and weakness. This needs to change,” he added.

Stating that Türkiye hopes talks with Syria, the US and Israel will yield outcomes that serve the interests of the region and contribute to Syria’s territorial integrity, security and stability, Fidan said, “We encourage this process, we follow it closely, and we do not hesitate to become involved when necessary.”

The Turkish foreign minister added that Ankara views developments in Yemen, Somaliland, Sudan and Syria through the same strategic lens, describing this approach as part of Türkiye’s broader regional assessment.

Developments in Yemen carry risk of causing broader regional instability

Developments in Yemen carry the risk of causing broader regional instability, said Fidan, adding that Türkiye shares the concerns and sensitivities of regional countries, including Oman.

“Türkiye strongly supports the preservation of Yemen’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. We reiterate the need for a lasting political solution in Yemen based on constitutional legitimacy,” he added.

Fidan said regional countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, have played a constructive role in preventing escalation in Yemen, expressing hope that a planned conference in Riyadh would support stability. He also praised Oman’s mediation efforts and thanked the Omani government for working to resolve the conflict through diplomacy.

International community expects full implementation of Gaza ceasefire

Fidan said discussions also focused on Gaza, stressing that the international community expects the full implementation of the ceasefire, while Israel continues to target civilians and restrict the delivery of essential humanitarian aid.

He noted that more than 420 Palestinians have been killed by Israel since the ceasefire was declared in early October, and emphasized the need to restore calm on the ground and improve humanitarian conditions as the process moves toward the second phase of the peace plan.

Fidan added that Ankara is closely monitoring developments related to the formation of a Peace Council and an International Stabilization Force, with the Peace Council expected to be announced in the coming days.

“From Türkiye’s perspective, three issues are of critical importance regarding Gaza’s future. First, Gaza’s territorial integrity must be preserved. Whatever projects are implemented, including those related to reconstruction, they must ensure that Gaza’s unity is maintained. Second, Gaza must be governed by Palestinians from Gaza; this is both a legal and moral responsibility and an imperative. Third, it is the people of Gaza who will live in Gaza, and all reconstruction and development activities carried out in the area must be for the benefit of Gazans,” he added.

Fidan said as long as those principles are upheld, Türkiye will continue to support the initiatives currently on the agenda, noting that Türkiye has long been drawing attention to Israel’s policies aimed at destabilizing the region.

Israel’s recognition of Somaliland

Fidan said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “playing an extremely dangerous game by trying to trigger every possible fault line” to undermine the peace and prosperity of neighboring countries. “We saw the latest example of this insidious policy last week in Somaliland. Israel’s decision to move toward recognizing Somaliland is unlawful. This step is an attempt to sow discord in our region and weaken solidarity. Our region must not fall for this game,” he said.

Stressing that decisions regarding the future of Somalia and the Somaliland region can only be determined by the will of the Somali people, Fidan said Türkiye is following the issue very closely.