Türkiye urges end to violence in southern Syria, reaffirms support for stability efforts

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has expressed hope that the recent surge of violence in southern Syria will be brought to an end swiftly through local-level dialogue initiated by the Syrian government.

In a statement shared on X, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli commented on the ongoing unrest in the region, Caliber.Az reports.

"We hope that the violence in southern Syria will be ended as soon as possible through dialogue at the local level by the Syrian government and that security will be restored," Keçeli wrote.

He further stressed that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria must be upheld throughout the process.

Keçeli added that Türkiye, alongside responsible members of the international community, remains committed to supporting efforts aimed at reinforcing stability and reconciliation in Syria.

Note that, more than 100 people have lost their lives in a surge of violence across Syria's Suwayda governorate, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The casualties include 60 members of the Druze community, four of whom were civilians, along with 18 Bedouin fighters, 14 security personnel, and seven unidentified individuals in military uniform. Syria's Defence Ministry has confirmed that 18 of the dead were members of the armed forces.

The unrest, rooted in long-standing tensions between Druze and Bedouin factions, prompted authorities to impose a curfew across Suwayda in an effort to restore order.

On July 15, Israeli forces carried out airstrikes on Suwayda following the Syrian army's entry into the predominantly Druze city.

Israel has stated its commitment to protecting Syria's Druze minority, whom it regards as potential allies.

By Aghakazim Guliyev