UPDATE - Israel's growing aggression aims to undermine Syrian revolution, suppress people's hopes: Turkish President Erdogan

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY PRESIDENT

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Behind Israel's growing aggression is an apparent attempt to overshadow the revolution in Syria and suppress Syrians' hopes, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday.

“Even if Israel is acting opportunistically, sooner or later it will have to withdraw from the lands it occupies,” Erdogan said in an address to the nation after the last Cabinet meeting of the year in the capital Ankara, speaking of Israel's recent illegal incursion into Syria.

Türkiye has stood on right side of history since the very beginning of Syrian crisis in 2011, Erdogan said.​​​​​​​

The Syrian revolution has refocused global attention on the country, said Erdogan, adding that as its “neighbor and brother” Türkiye is best suited to grasp its new phase.

Stressing Türkiye’s unwavering support for protecting Syria’s territorial integrity and unitary structure, Erdogan said: “We will never back down on this.”

Ankara will provide all necessary support to the Syrian people to “make their achievements permanent” after they triumphed over the “oppressive regime,” Erdogan said.

There is no place in Syria for any terror group, including Daesh/ISIS and the PKK, Erdogan warned, adding that the terrorist PKK and its affiliates will either disband or be eliminated.

Erdogan said that Ankara is determined to continue its counterterrorism operations in Syria with “surgical precision, ensuring no harm comes to civilians.”

-Türkiye’s diplomatic efforts

President Erdogan said Türkiye has been working on a particularly intense agenda, especially in foreign policy, since the last Cabinet meeting.

Pointing to the Dec. 11 meeting between Somali President Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed hosted by Türkiye, Erdogan said: “We have now crossed another critical threshold in the Ankara process, which was launched eight months ago to resolve issues between the two friendly countries."

He underlined that the Horn of Africa region has long been associated with tensions, hunger, terrorist attacks, and the "divide and rule" policies of imperialist powers.

"We are well aware that these insidious scenarios are still in play. We believe the historic step taken with the Ankara Declaration will contribute to the establishment of lasting peace, tranquility, and stability in the Horn of Africa," Erdogan said.

On the recent visit to Türkiye of Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim, Erdogan said they discussed a wide range of issues, particularly the current situation in Syria.

"We will support Syria in its efforts to heal the wounds caused by 13 years of war, to recover and rebuild itself, both in terms of its state and its society,” he said.

On Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati's visit to Türkiye, which followed Israeli attacks on Lebanon, Erdogan said that it was "extremely valuable" for Türkiye.

"Prime Minister Mikati is carrying a heavy burden with great dignity during one of the most difficult periods in his country's history. I am fully confident that, with his resilient and farsighted leadership, Lebanon will reach safety. During this process, we will not betray the trust placed in our country or in me personally, and we will stand by Lebanon with all our resources,” he added.