Türkiye Renews Call for Reconciliation in Syria

A photo distributed by the Turkish Interior Ministry of ISIS fighters who were arrested in the city of Al-Bab, Syria (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A photo distributed by the Turkish Interior Ministry of ISIS fighters who were arrested in the city of Al-Bab, Syria (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Türkiye Renews Call for Reconciliation in Syria

A photo distributed by the Turkish Interior Ministry of ISIS fighters who were arrested in the city of Al-Bab, Syria (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A photo distributed by the Turkish Interior Ministry of ISIS fighters who were arrested in the city of Al-Bab, Syria (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Türkiye has renewed its call for reconciliation between the regime in Damascus and opposition factions in Syria.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has reaffirmed his country’s support for Syria remaining unified and undivided. The top diplomat stressed the need for finding a political solution to the crisis in Syria and urged more communication between Damascus and opposition factions.

“Within the framework of the UN Security Council resolution, the regime and the opposition must agree on a roadmap including a constitution and then an election process,” Cavusoglu said, speaking to representatives of non-government organizations (NGOs) and businesspeople in southern Hatay province.

“Unity in Syria can only be achieved if the moderate opposition and the regime [Syrian authorities] agree on a roadmap,” he added.

Cavusoglu added that this is the only way to establish unity and cohesion in Syria, and this would also contribute to enabling displaced Syrians to return securely to their country.

“We will provide the necessary support for fair and transparent elections in Syria under the auspices of the UN,” noted the minister.

Cavusoglu pointed out that the Constitutional Committee, after nine rounds of talks, has not yet achieved any results.

“We will continue to work with the guarantor countries of the Astana process (Russia, Türkiye, and Iran) to achieve results in the upcoming rounds,” he said.

Addressing those who said they were disturbed by this proposal, he said, "Tell us if there is another solution. Do you accept that this civil war continues for another 50 years?"

Cavusoglu pointed out that Syria should not be allowed to "turn into a den of terrorism directed against Turkey," saying that Turkey is aware of the support provided by the West to separatist groups in Syria such as the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).



Israeli Military: 5 Soldiers Killed in Combat in South Lebanon

Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept rockets that were launched from Lebanon, as seen from Haifa, northern Israel, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept rockets that were launched from Lebanon, as seen from Haifa, northern Israel, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
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Israeli Military: 5 Soldiers Killed in Combat in South Lebanon

Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept rockets that were launched from Lebanon, as seen from Haifa, northern Israel, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept rockets that were launched from Lebanon, as seen from Haifa, northern Israel, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Five Israeli soldiers were killed and 16 others wounded in combat in southern Lebanon in recent weeks, the Israeli military said in a statement on Thursday.

Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem said in a speech aired Wednesday that the Lebanese group is open for ceasefire negotiations only once “the enemy stops its aggression.”

His speech marked the 40-day mourning period since former Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was assassinated in Beirut.

Hezbollah began firing into Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, in solidarity with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Since the conflict erupted, more than 3,000 people have been killed and some 13,600 wounded in Lebanon, the Health Ministry reported.