Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday demanded that Israel cease its “aggressive actions” towards neighbouring Syria, where a new administration has taken charge after the fall of the Assad regime.
“Starting with Israel, the forces attacking Syrian territories must immediately put an end to their aggressive actions. Otherwise, the consequences will have a negative impact on everyone,” Erdogan said during an address of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the capital Ankara.
“Everyone should withdraw from the region. Together with our Syrian brothers, we will crush the heads of ISIS [Daesh], the YPG, and other terrorist organisations in a short time,” he added.
Following the fall of the Assad regime in early December, Israel seized the opportunity to expand its occupation, capturing the Golan Heights buffer zone in violation of a 1974 disengagement agreement. The strategic Mount Hermon in Golan, a critical vantage point, also fell under the occupation state’s control. Tel Aviv has also carried out numerous air strikes on strategic military sites across Syria.