Official announcements from the governments of Israel, Hamas, or Turkey, or credible international news outlets

Blinken and Turkey's Fidan Agree on Syria's Future, Urge Gaza Ceasefire

Dec 13, 2024, 10:02 AM

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara to discuss efforts to stabilize Syria and combat terrorism. Blinken and Fidan agreed on the importance of preventing the resurgence of ISIS and other terrorist groups in Syria, emphasizing the necessity to deny territory to ISIS. Blinken noted that the US and Turkey have a broad agreement on what they want to see in Syria's future. They also discussed their countries' potential roles in shaping Syria's future, emphasizing cooperation on ensuring Syria's stability, unity, and sovereignty. Additionally, Blinken urged Turkey to use its influence over Hamas to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza, with both sides agreeing that a ceasefire should be reached as soon as possible.