Erdogan accuses Israel of trying to “destroy the revolution” in Syria by inciting ethnic and religious divisions and inciting minorities against the government

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday accused Israel of seeking to “destroy the revolution” in Syria by fueling divisions in the country after the fall of Bashar al Assad.

Erdogan said at a diplomatic forum in Antalya, southern Türkiye, that Israel is trying to undermine the December 8 revolution by inflaming ethnic and religious divisions in Syria and inciting minorities in the country to oppose the government.

He added, “We won’t allow Syria to be dragged into a new cycle of instability,” noting that “the Syrian people are tired of suffering, oppression, and war”.

The Turkish president also accused Israel of directly threatening the stability of the region with its attacks on Lebanon and Syria”.

Türkiye is one of the biggest backers of the Islamist-led coalition ruling Syria after it ousted President Bashar al-Assad in December following a nearly 14-year civil war.

Ankara’s newfound influence in Syria is worrying Israel.

Syrian transitional President Ahmad al Sharaa also participated in the Antalya Diplomatic Forum and held a bilateral meeting with Erdogan.

Erdogan assured al Sharaa that Türkiye would continue its diplomatic efforts to lift international sanctions on Syria, and stressed the necessity of reviving trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, according to the Turkish Presidency’s Communications Directorate’s website.

Erdogan’s remarks came two days after technical talks in Azerbaijan between Türkiye and Israel aimed at preventing the risk of escalation between them in Syria.

However, the two regional powers are facing difficulties in reaching an agreement, as Wednesday’s meeting didn’t result in any concrete understandings.

According to an informed Syrian source, Ankara is attempting to establish military sites in Syria, including within the T4 air base in Homs province, which was targeted by Israeli strikes last week.

For its part, the Israeli army is seeking to push Syrian forces away from its border.

Last week, it intensified its bloody strikes in Syria and carried out a ground incursion into the south of the country, targeting military bases and an airport.