Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday accused Israel of trying to undermine Syria’s new government by inflaming ethnic and religious tensions, saying it was an effort to “dynamite” the “revolution” that removed Bashar al-Assad from power.
Speaking at a diplomacy forum in the southern resort city of Antalya, Erdoğan said Israel was turning minorities against Syria’s new leadership and threatening regional stability with its military actions.
“Israel is trying to dynamite the December 8 revolution by stirring up ethnic and religious affiliations and turning minorities in Syria against the government,” Erdoğan said.
Turkey backs Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) led the rebel coalition that toppled al-Assad in December.
Erdoğan’s remarks came as Turkish and Israeli officials held talks this week aimed at easing tensions over the conflict in Syria.
Israel has launched airstrikes and ground operations to push Syrian forces away from its border.
“Israel is turning into a problematic country that directly threatens the stability of the region, especially with its attacks on Lebanon and Syria,” Erdoğan said, adding that the Israeli military campaign was disrupting efforts to combat the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
© Agence France-Presse