Ankara, Damascus accuse Israel of destabilizing Syria

Turkey’s foreign minister and his Syrian counterpart are warning Israel not to stir up chaos in Syria, demanding an end to all external interventions aimed at destabilizing the war-torn country.

“Certain actors are bothered by the positive developments in Syria,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says after talks with Syria’s Asaad al-Shaibani in Ankara, referring to Israel and Kurdish YPG fighters operational in northeastern Syria.

“Israel is currently one of the biggest actors in this dark picture,” he says of its ongoing military incursions since the overthrow of Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad late last year.

“The emergence of chaos in Syria… appears to have become a priority for Israel’s own national security,” he adds.

Standing next to him, Shaibani also warns against efforts to foster chaos in Syria.

“We’re facing new challenges that are no less dangerous than those we encountered during the years of war, foremost among them are repeated Israeli threats… through airstrikes,” he says.

“We are also confronting multiple foreign interventions, both direct and indirect… (that) push the country toward sectarian and regional strife,” he adds without giving details but warning against “any reckless attempts to exploit events here.”