Erdoğan accuses Israel of exploiting Syrian revolution amid renewed aggression

ANKARA

Behind Israel's growing aggression is an apparent attempt to overshadow the revolution in Syria and suppress Syrians' hopes, said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday. 

“Even if Israel is acting opportunistically, sooner or later it will have to withdraw from the lands it occupies,” Erdoğan 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, Erdoğan said.​​​​​​​

The Syrian revolution has refocused global attention on the country, said Erdoğan, 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, Erdoğan 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,” Erdoğan said.

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

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