Israel’s occupation of southern Syria part of expansionist agenda, Turkiye FM says

Turkiye has criticised Israel’s attacks on Syria and its ongoing occupation of the country’s southern provinces, calling it part of an Israeli expansionist agenda.

Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that his government “will not allow” Syria’s new authorities and its armed forces to enter territory south of the capital Damascus, stating his demand for “full demilitarisation of southern Syria”.

Following those remarks, Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated after a press briefing on Monday that “Netanyahu’s government and those who follow his agenda are using the current situation to further Israel’s expansionism.”

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The Turkish diplomat warned that Israel’s “ongoing occupations in Lebanon and Syria, the provocation and attempted annexation of the West Bank, and the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza are all part of a dangerous plan.”

Emphasising that Tel Aviv’s security policies rely on external support and methods of military aggression, Fidan expressed his belief that the occupation does not seek a two-state solution with the Palestinians, but instead aims to expand territorially and dominate its neighbours in the region.

“For many years, we have known that Israel has developed a project aimed at creating weakness and instability in neighbouring countries such as Jordan, Lebanon and Syria,” the Turkish foreign minister stated. “Beyond this, it collaborates with the United States to prevent second-tier countries from acquiring military capabilities.”

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