Türkiye endorses US-led Syria truce, vows to protect border from terror threats

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during which the two officials discussed recent developments in southern Syria and broader regional dynamics, according to diplomatic sources, quoted by Turkish media.

The conversation came in the wake of a newly brokered ceasefire between Israel and Syria, mediated by the United States. The agreement, announced on July 18, follows weeks of intensified clashes and growing instability in southern Syria. US Special Representative for Syria Thom Barrack confirmed the truce, noting that the administration of President Donald Trump played a pivotal role in facilitating the dialogue.

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, with the support of the US, have agreed on a ceasefire,” Barrack stated. He underlined that the agreement also enjoys the backing of key regional stakeholders, including Türkiye, Jordan, and other neighbouring countries.

In his call with Rubio, Minister Fidan welcomed the ceasefire but stressed the urgent need to end all armed clashes in Syria and restore stability. He emphasised the importance of full implementation of the agreements reached by the conflicting parties, warning that any further escalation could jeopardize the fragile diplomatic progress.

Fidan also voiced concern over Israel’s continued military actions on Syrian territory, stating that such operations only serve to aggravate tensions and undermine Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national unity. He underscored that these principles must be respected by all actors if durable peace is to be achieved.

Importantly, the Turkish Foreign Minister made clear that Türkiye will not tolerate the exploitation of the volatile security situation in southern Syria by terrorist organisations. Ankara remains committed, he said, to countering any such threats along its borders.

Fidan reaffirmed Türkiye’s support for the constructive role the United States is playing in Syria and expressed readiness to work closely with Washington and other international partners to pursue a comprehensive and sustainable resolution to the conflict. He highlighted the importance of seizing the current momentum to ensure that the Syrian people are granted the opportunity to shape their own future in peace.

In a broader regional context, the two officials also addressed the situation in the Gaza Strip and ongoing ceasefire negotiations. Fidan reiterated Ankara’s firm support for the early establishment of a lasting truce in Gaza and called for the immediate and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population.

As part of US efforts to reinforce the ceasefire in Syria, Special Representative Barrack issued an appeal to all of Syria’s diverse communities. “We call on the Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to lay down their arms and, together with other minorities, build a new, unified Syrian identity, as well as peace and prosperity with their neighbours,” he said.

By Tamilla Hasanova