Turkiye, US discuss possible roles in Syria’s future: FM Fidan
Turkiye’s Hakan Fidan says his country’s priority in Syria is ensuring the stability and prevention of domination by groups deemed “terrorists” after the toppling of ruler al-Assad.
Speaking alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken after their meeting in Ankara, Fidan said the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and ISIL (ISIS) should not gain ground in post-Assad Syria, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency.
Blinken said they discussed the imperative of continuing efforts to keep ISIL down in Syria.
The top diplomat met Turkish President Erdogan earlier in the day.
The concern is always about terrorists. Instead of helping the new government so they can enforce the rule of law, Blinken is only concerned about bombing ISIL.
Video shows White House spokesman evading question on Israel’s military operations in Syria
Reporter Niall Stanage and national security spokesperson John Kirby had this exchange yesterday, in which the reporter asked Kirby why foreign troops are still in Syria if the White House wants an independent and sovereign state after the fall of al-Assad.
Israeli troops seized land inside Syria’s Golan Heights, adjacent to the territory it already illegally occupies there. It has also carried out hundreds of air strikes on Syria since al-Assad fled the country less than a week ago.
Kirby claimed that Israel’s moves in Syria are “temporary”, and the reporter followed up by pointing out that the Golan Heights have been partially occupied by Israel since 1967.
.@NiallStanage: Presence of foreign [🇮🇱] troops seems inconsistent with an independent and sovereign Syria, will the admin pressure its ally to withdraw
Kirby: They said it’s temporary
Niall: Have they indicated what they mean by ‘temporary,’ given that they’ve occupied the… pic.twitter.com/DT3b4aZPRP
— Assal Rad (@AssalRad) December 13, 2024
An aerial picture taken by a drone shows damaged Syrian government warplanes in the Mezzeh military airport in Damascus, Syria, on Thursday
Netanyahu visits Golan Heights as Israeli troops occupy Mt Hermon peak
Israel Katz, the country’s defence minister, has posted a picture on X showing himself alongside the prime minister observing the mountain.
“Overlooking the Syrian peak of Mount Hermon, which returned to Israeli control after 51 years. An exciting historical moment”, Katz wrote in a post accompanying the photo.
Israeli troops in recent days have moved into the demilitarised zone inside Syria, including the Syrian side of the strategic Mount Hermon that overlooks Damascus, where it took over an abandoned Syrian military post.
Israel has repeatedly said that any operations its ground troops are undertaking in Syria are temporary and for the safety of Israel.
The UN has called on Syria’s neighbours to respect its territorial integrity as it undergoes this period of transition.
A drone view shows damage to ships at Latakia port after the Israeli military said it attacked Syrian defence facilities on Wednesday
Katz orders Israeli troops to prepare to remain on Mount Hermon during winter
The Israeli defence minister has given the order considering the developments in Syria, according to a statement by his office. “Due to what is happening in Syria – there is enormous security importance to our holding on to the peak of Mount Hermon,” the statement said.
Following President al-Assad’s fall on Sunday, Israeli troops moved into the demilitarised zone inside Syria created after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. The Syrian side of the strategic Mount Hermon overlooks Damascus. An abandoned Syrian military post has also been seized, according to the Israeli army.
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