Official announcements from the Turkish or Syrian governments, credible news outlets

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan Plans Dialogue with New Syrian Government, Citing 10 Years of HTS Cooperation and No Terrorism

Dec 21, 2024, 12:19 PM

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has announced plans to engage with the new Syrian government, emphasizing the need for dialogue. He stated that Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has not been involved in any terrorist activities over the past decade, a point corroborated by Western intelligence agencies. Fidan highlighted that HTS has cooperated with Turkey in intelligence gathering regarding ISIS and Al-Qaeda. He also mentioned that the YPG/PKK, which he described as an artificially created terrorist organization, is well aware of Turkey's objectives. Fidan's comments reflect a shift in Turkey's approach towards the Syrian conflict and its actors, as he prepares for discussions with officials from the new Syrian administration in Damascus.