(Forelines) – Turkey does not seek a confrontation with Israel in Syria following repeated Israeli strikes on military positions there undermined the new Syrian government’s ability to respond to threats, Hakan Fidan, Turkish Foreign Minister said Reuters on Friday.
During a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated in an interview that Israel’s operations in Syria – where the administration of President Ahmed al-Sharaa is a close aligned with Turkish – were paving the path for future regional instability.
If the new administration in Syria wants to have “certain understandings” with Israel, which like Turkey is a neighbour of Syria, then that is their own business, Hakan Fidan added.
As a NATO member, Turkey has fiercely criticised Israel over its strikes on Gaza since 2023, accusing they amount to a genocide against the Palestinians, and has applied to join a case at the World Court against Israel while further suspending all trade.
Israel rejects the genocide allegations.
The strained relationship between the regional powers has extended into Damascus, with Israeli forces attacking Syria for weeks since a new leadership took control in Syria. Turkey has condemned the Israeli attacks an encroachment on Syrian territories, while Israel has stated it would not permit any hostile forces in Damascus.
When asked about U.S. President Trump’s threats of military attacks against Iran, Hakan Fidan stated diplomatic solutions was needed to resolve the conflict and that Turkey opposes any military strike taking place against its neighbour Iran.