Iran, Turkey warn about Syria becoming terrorists’ ‘safe haven’
Iran and Turkey on Monday called for efforts aimed at preventing Syria from becoming “a safe haven” for terrorists following a surprise offensive by militants sweeping across the northwest of the Arab country.
“Iran and Turkey agree that Syria should not be allowed to turn into a safe haven for terrorist groups again,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told a joint press conference attended by his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Ankara.
Araghchi also expressed concern about the reactivation of terrorist groups in Syria, which he said has seriously endangered stability and territorial integrity of the Arab country.
“The reactivation of Takfiri terrorist groups in northern Syria and their attacks on different areas, including the city of Aleppo, is worrying. The resurgence of terrorism in Syria has seriously endangered the security, stability, and territorial integrity of Syria, and the consequences of such a dangerous situation will certainly affect all countries, especially Syria’s neighbors,” Araghchi said during the joint presser.
The meeting followed a surprise attack by foreign-backed militants in Syria at the weekend.
Araghchi said that destabilizing Syria is an Israeli plot, and no one should ignore the regime’s role in this regard.
Iran’s top diplomat warned that destabilization in Syria could lead to a civil war, killing of civilians, and would be a blow to the economy and people of the country and region.
‘Iran stands with Syria’
Also on Monday, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian in a phone call with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad said Tehran is ready to improve cooperation with Syria to overcome the ongoing crisis.
“We believe that Syria will once again overcome the Zionist plots. Iran stands with the Syrian government and people to that end.”
During the phone call, Assad termed the offensive as an attempt to redraw the regional map in line with US interests.
However, Turkey rejected any suggestion that “foreign interference” was behind the offensive.
Turkish foreign minister said developments in Syria show the need for the Syrian government to reconcile with its people and the opposition.
“The reason for the latest developments in (northern) Syria is that problems in the past 13 years were not solved,” Fidan said during the press conference with Araghchi.
‘Unconditional support’
Iranian president also held a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, during which both leaders pledged “unconditional support” for Syria.
They also “emphasized the importance” of coordinating with Turkey, the Russian side said in its readout of the call.
Foreign-backed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group and allied factions broke through government defense lines in Syria’s second largest city Aleppo on Friday and entered the city’s western neighborhood. The insurgents launched their shock offensive in Aleppo and Idlib countryside on Wednesday and wrested control of dozens of villages and towns along the way, including a strategic town south of Aleppo.
HTS is an alliance led by Al-Qaeda’s former Syria branch, and has faced accusations of human rights abuses.