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Erdogan Warns Israel Over Repercussions of Attacks on Syria

A handout photo made available by the Turkish Presidential Press Office shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) shaking hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani (R) during their meeting in Ankara, Turkey, 15 January 2025. EPA/TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES
A handout photo made available by the Turkish Presidential Press Office shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) shaking hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani (R) during their meeting in Ankara, Turkey, 15 January 2025. EPA/TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES
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Erdogan Warns Israel Over Repercussions of Attacks on Syria

A handout photo made available by the Turkish Presidential Press Office shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) shaking hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani (R) during their meeting in Ankara, Turkey, 15 January 2025. EPA/TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES
A handout photo made available by the Turkish Presidential Press Office shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) shaking hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani (R) during their meeting in Ankara, Turkey, 15 January 2025. EPA/TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan preempted discussions with a Syrian government delegation in Ankara by announcing that the talks would focus on supporting Syria and reconstruction efforts.

Addressing parliament on Wednesday, Erdogan stated: “Israel must immediately cease its hostilities on Syrian territory; otherwise, the consequences will negatively affect everyone.”

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted Turkish-Syrian talks on Wednesday under the 3+3 format, involving Foreign Ministers Hakan Fidan and Asaad Al-Shibani, Defense Ministers Yasar Guler and Marhaf Abu Qasra, and intelligence chiefs Ibrahim Kalin and Anas Khattab.

According to sources in Türkiye, the discussions addressed developments in Syria, particularly the status of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), the largest faction within the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The talks also covered the ongoing clashes between the SDF and the Türkiye-backed Syrian National Army factions in eastern Aleppo. Ankara aims to resolve the issue by disarming the YPG, expelling foreign fighters from Syria, and integrating Syrian fighters into a unified Syrian army.

Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the talks also explored cooperation in security, counterterrorism, energy, reconstruction, and development.

Additionally, the agenda included the “voluntary and safe return” of Syrian refugees and efforts to lift sanctions imposed on Damascus.

The sources noted that Türkiye would reiterate its support for the Syrian administration in various areas to ensure a successful transitional phase and achieve security and stability in Syria.

In a speech to the parliamentary group of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Wednesday, Erdogan declared: “We will not allow any form of chaos in Syria, nor will we permit seeds of discord to be sown between us and the Syrian people.” He also warned Israel against continuing its hostilities on Syrian territory.

“Everyone must withdraw their hands from the region. Together with our Syrian brothers, we are capable of crushing ISIS, the YPG, and all terrorist organizations in a short time,” Erdogan stated.

He described the YPG as the “biggest problem in Syria now, after the removal of former President Bashar al-Assad,” and warned that if the YPG fighters do not disarm, they “will not escape their inevitable fate.”

He also emphasized that Türkiye is committed to addressing the concerns of Syrian Kurds and guarantees their security.

Meanwhile, five SDF fighters were killed in drone strikes and artillery shelling by Türkiye on the Seri Tel axis near the Tishrin Dam in eastern Aleppo. The number of casualties among Turkish-backed factions rose to 13 over two days amid ongoing clashes between the two sides.

The fighting, now in its second month, has yet to alter territorial control. Türkiye-backed factions have taken over Tell Rifaat and Manbij but are facing stiff resistance from the SDF and its affiliated Manbij Military Council forces in attempts to breach the strategic Tishrin Dam axis.

Simultaneously, the US-led international coalition against ISIS conducted night drills with the SDF on Tuesday-Wednesday in the Qasrak base in western Al-Hasakah countryside. The exercises involved live ammunition and artillery shells to enhance coordination and combat readiness against potential threats in the region.

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FM: Iraq Wants Iran-backed Factions to Lay Down Weapons

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speaks during an interview in London, Britain, January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Marissa Davison
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speaks during an interview in London, Britain, January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Marissa Davison
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FM: Iraq Wants Iran-backed Factions to Lay Down Weapons

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speaks during an interview in London, Britain, January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Marissa Davison
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speaks during an interview in London, Britain, January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Marissa Davison

Iraq is trying to convince powerful armed factions in the country that have fought US forces and fired rockets and drones at Israel to lay down their weapons or join official security forces, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said.

The push comes with a backdrop of seismic shifts in the Middle East that have seen Iran's armed allies in Gaza and Lebanon heavily degraded and Syria's government overthrown.

The incoming US Trump administration promises to pile more pressure on Tehran, which has long backed a number of political parties and an array of armed factions in Iraq.

Some Baghdad officials are concerned the status quo there may be upended next, but Hussein played this down in an interview with Reuters during an official visit to London.

"We don't think that Iraq is the next," Hussein said.

The government was in talks to rein in the groups while continuing to walk the tightrope between its ties to both Washington and Tehran, he said.
"Two or three years ago it was impossible to discuss this topic in our society," he said.

But now, having armed groups functioning outside the state was not acceptable.

"Many political leaders, many political parties started to raise a discussion, and I hope that we can convince the leaders of these groups to lay down their arms, and then to be part of the armed forces under the responsibility of the government," Hussein said.

Iraq's balancing act has been tested by Iran-backed Iraqi armed groups' attacks on Israel and on US troops in the country they say are in solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war.

A promised Gaza ceasefire has the government breathing a sigh of relief, though uncertainty prevails over how the country may fare after Donald Trump becomes US president.

During the last Trump presidency, relations grew tense as he ordered the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad in 2020, leading to an Iranian ballistic missile attack on an Iraqi base housing US forces.

"We hope that we can continue this good relationship with Washington," Hussein said. "It is too early now to talk about which policy President Trump is going to follow for Iraq or Iran."

Iraq will only be reassured about Syria when it sees an inclusive political process, Hussein said, adding Baghdad would supply the country with grain and oil once it could be assured it would go to all Syrians.
Baghdad was in talks with Syria's foreign minister over a visit to Iraq, he said.

"We are worried about the ISIS, so we are in contact with the Syrian side to talk about these things, but at the end to have a stable Syria means to have the representative of all components in the political process."

Baghdad and Washington last year agreed to end the US-led coalition's work by September 2026 and transition to bilateral military ties, but Hussein said that the developments in Syria would have to be watched.

"In the first place, we are thinking about security of Iraq and stability in Iraq. If there will be a threat to our country, of course it will be a different story," he said.