Erdoğan discusses situation in Syria with Putin amid advance of rebels
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Türkiye, and Vladimir Putin, Presisent of Russia (photo: kremlin.ru)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan discussed the escalating situation in Syria during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The conflict in the country continues as rebel forces, opposed to the regime of Bashar al-Assad, advance, with Assad's regime being supported by the Kremlin, according to the Turkish President's Communications Directorate.
Erdoğan's office noted that the phone call covered Turkish-Russian relations, recent developments in Syria, as well as global and regional issues.
The Turkish leader stated that Ankara is working towards a fair and long-term resolution to the problem in Syria.
Furthermore, Erdoğan added that Türkiye continues to support Syria's territorial integrity.
The Turkish president emphasized the importance of creating more room for diplomacy in the region and noted that the Syrian regime must participate in the process of politically resolving the issue.
"Noting that avoiding harm to civilians is the most important issue in the context of the latest developments in Syria, President Erdoğan said that Syria should not become a source of greater instability," said the Turkish leader’s office.
According to Erdoğan, Türkiye is doing everything possible to restore peace in Syria.
The Turkish president added that his country will continue to maintain a firm stance in the fight against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Ankara designates as a terrorist organization, and its representatives.
In Erdoğan's view, the PKK is attempting to exploit the recent events in Syria.
Situation in Syria, Türkiye's influence on the rebels, and Russia's support for Assad
Some rebel groups in Syria, which are actively participating in the current offensive by anti-Assad forces in the Aleppo and Idlib provinces, are referred to by observers as pro-Turkish forces. This includes the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and units of the Syrian National Army. It is believed that Ankara has influence over them and allegedly provides support.
However, Israeli military analyst David Sharp recently pointed out in a comment to RBC-Ukraine that Türkiye does not influence the Syrian rebels who launched an offensive in the Aleppo region last week.
At the same time, Russia is an ally of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. A Russian military contingent remains in Syria, and Russian aviation is involved in carrying out airstrikes, which are reportedly aimed at halting the advance of the rebels.
There have already been reports of numerous casualties among the civilian population in Syria due to the actions of Russian aviation in recent days. Meanwhile, Russian forces in the country are suffering losses amid the rebel offensive.
On December 2, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported that Russian troops had already withdrawn from Syria's Hama and were fleeing Damascus. On December 1, it became known that Syrian rebels had fully taken control of Aleppo.
For more on why the war has restarted in Syria and whether Assad’s regime will fall, read the article by RBC-Ukraine.
