Turkish President Backs Syrian Interim Leader Amid Sectarian Unrest
Click to start listening
Synopsis
In a recent address, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan voiced his support for interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa amid rising sectarian violence. Erdogan condemned attempts to incite conflict and emphasized the need for accountability regarding the recent deadly clashes in Syria.
Key Takeaways
- President Erdogan warns against sectarian tensions in Syria.
- Support for interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's accountability efforts.
- Recent clashes resulted in nearly 1,500 fatalities.
- Al-Sharaa pledges an independent investigation into the violence.
- Turkey remains a strong ally of al-Sharaa's government.
Ankara, March 11 (NationPress) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cautioned against attempts to stir sectarian discord in Syria, reaffirming his support for interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who is dedicated to ensuring accountability for those involved in the recent wave of deadly confrontations.
During a press briefing on Monday after a cabinet meeting, Erdogan claimed that remnants of Syria's previous regime were seeking to incite sectarian conflict, although he described the overall landscape as "largely stable yet delicate," according to Xinhua news agency.
"We commend President al-Sharaa's reassuring and determined position that lawbreakers will face repercussions. I trust in the wisdom of the Syrian populace to prevent destabilization," Erdogan remarked, denouncing all forms of terrorism, violence, and intimidation.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based conflict monitor, reported that nearly 1,500 individuals, including more than 1,000 civilians, lost their lives between Thursday and Saturday. The report indicated that security forces and affiliated groups were responsible for the majority of civilian casualties in the Alawite-dominant coastal area.
The recent violence followed a deadly ambush on a security patrol, which authorities attributed to Alawite militants. Armed individuals supportive of the interim government have been accused of retaliatory assaults against members of the Alawite sect, a minority group that was in power under the ousted leader Bashar al-Assad.
Al-Sharaa, who spearheaded a rapid rebel offensive that led to Assad's downfall in December, vowed to create an independent committee to probe the killings. "The perpetrators will be held accountable," he stated.
This latest violence represents the most severe unrest since al-Sharaa's forces took control of the nation.
Turkey has been a staunch ally of al-Sharaa and his Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militant group throughout Syria's civil conflict.
