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Iran Warns Türkiye Against Launching Military Operation in Syria

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (EPA)
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (EPA)
    London, Brussels – Asharq Al-Awsat
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Iran Warns Türkiye Against Launching Military Operation in Syria

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (EPA)
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (EPA)

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, in a phone conversation, exchanged views on the latest border developments and military conflicts between Türkiye and Syria.

During the talks, Amirabdollahian said Iran understands Türkiye's security concerns and stressed the need to end them.

However, Amirabdollahian said that "achieving that goal necessitates constant security talks between the two countries, said the Iranian foreign minister, adding that a resort to ground military operations will not only fail to solve the problems but will cause damage and complicate the situation."

According to the German news agency, the Iranian foreign minister also expressed Tehran's readiness to provide any assistance to reach a political solution to the existing problems between Türkiye and Syria.

For his part, Cavusoglu explained his country's position on the current situation in Syria, describing Iran's role as "constructive."

Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on Türkiye to refrain from any ground invasion of northern Syria or military strikes against the north of Iraq, according to Reuters.

Turkish officials said Monday that its forces need just days to be ready for a ground incursion into northern Syria, which they have been attacking with long-range weapons and warplanes for days.

"I have urgently appealed (Türkiye) to refrain from measures that would further escalate violence – such as a potential ground invasion of northern Syria or military action in northern Iraq," Baerbock said on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Bucharest.

Turkey's bombardments of a Kurdish militia across the border in Syria come after months of threats by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of a new ground invasion against Kurdish forces, which he considers to be terrorists.

"International law applies, of course, when it comes to the protection against acts of terrorism," Baerbock said.

Syria sees Turkey as an occupying force in its north, and Damascus has said it would consider any new Turkish incursions to be "war crimes."

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6,000 Inmates Escape from High-security Prison in Mozambique

Some of the prisoners at the facility snatched weapons from the guards and started freeing other detainees. (file photo/The AP)
Some of the prisoners at the facility snatched weapons from the guards and started freeing other detainees. (file photo/The AP)
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6,000 Inmates Escape from High-security Prison in Mozambique

Some of the prisoners at the facility snatched weapons from the guards and started freeing other detainees. (file photo/The AP)
Some of the prisoners at the facility snatched weapons from the guards and started freeing other detainees. (file photo/The AP)

At least 6,000 inmates escaped from a high-security prison in Mozambique’s capital on Christmas Day after a rebellion, the country's police chief said, as widespread post-election riots and violence are roiling the country.

Police chief Bernardino Rafael said 33 prisoners died and 15 others were injured during a confrontation with the security forces.

The prisoners fled during violent protests that have seen police cars, stations and infrastructure destroyed after the country’s Constitutional Council confirmed the ruling Frelimo party as the winner of the Oct. 9 elections.

The escape from the Maputo Central Prison, located 14 kilometers (9 miles) southwest of the capital, started around midday on Wednesday after “agitation” by a “group of subversive protesters” nearby, Rafael said, The AP reported.

Some of the prisoners at the facility snatched weapons from the guards and started freeing other detainees.

“A curious fact is that in that prison we had 29 convicted terrorists, who they released. We are worried, as a country, as Mozambicans, as members of the defense and security forces,” said Rafael.

“They (protesters) were making noise, demanding that they be able to remove the prisoners who are there serving their sentences”, said Rafael, adding that the protests led to the collapse of a wall, allowing the prisoners to flee.

He called on the escaped prisoners to surrender to authorities and for the population to be informed about the fugitives.

Videos circulating on social media show the moment inmates left the prison, while other recordings reveal captures made by military personnel and prison guards. Many prisoners tried to hide in homes, but some were unsuccessful and ended up being detained again.

In one video, a prisoner still with handcuffs on his right wrist says he was held n the disciplinary section of the prison and was released by other inmates.

Violence has engulfed Mozambique since the country’s highest court confirmed ruling Frelimo party presidential candidate Daniel Chapo as the winner of disputed Oct. 9 elections on Monday.

Mozambique's Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told a news conference in Maputo late Tuesday that the violence was led by mostly youthful supporters of losing candidate Venancio Mondlane, who received 24% of the vote, second to Chapo, who got 65%.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is concerned at the violence and urges all political leaders and relevant parties “to defuse tensions including through meaningful dialogue (and) legal redress,” UN associate spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay said Thursday.

The UN chief also calls for a halt to the violence and redoubled efforts “to seek a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis,” she said.

Associated Press