Israel could act against Syria after Iran war, Turkish foreign minister says

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that he believes Israel will act against Syria when the time is right, adding that Damascus has taken the right diplomatic track by engaging with both the US and the Israeli government to protect itself.

Speaking during a live broadcast with Anadolu Agency, Fidan said that Damascus needs to build a system of governance that rests on strong foundations.

“It needs to have a structure that embraces all segments of society,” he said. “Public support is important.”

Fidan said that Syria is handling some internal challenges and that the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Syrian Kurdish armed group, is on track. The SDF handed over large swathes of territory to Damascus earlier this year.

He said that while the main problem in Syria is the need for reconstruction after more than a decade of civil war, the uncertainty surrounding the Druze in the south was another issue.

Israel repeatedly struck Syrian forces last year, alleging that Damascus was seeking to carry out sectarian attacks against the minority.

The Israeli strikes largely stopped after both parties signed an intelligence-sharing agreement in January.

“Israel’s desire and practice of exploiting this issue are obvious,” Fidan said.

“But the problem is this: when I speak with actors in the region and with international actors, there are risks that may be created by Israel’s postponed policies toward Syria,” he added.

“Because of the ongoing war in Iran, it is not doing certain things right now, but that does not mean it will never do them.”

Fidan said Syria was not a priority for Israel at the moment.

“Later, when the time comes, it may want to act,” he added.

Vital area

Fidan said that the Syrian government has been making a strong diplomatic effort with the US and Israel, and that it does not seem to be facing any difficulty regarding its positions.

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his team’s perspective on this issue is clear; we are taking our steps and precautions accordingly,” Fidan said.

“For us, Syria is a vital area of interest and security. We need to be prepared for every possible scenario there.”

Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Damascus on a Turkish official plane along with Fidan.

Zelensky’s meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa triggered rumours that the three countries were looking to establish a new security platform.

Fidan said that while the visit was important, he did not think it would turn into a systematic trilateral doctrine.