Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his support for Syria’s anti-regime forces to continue their march without facing any hardships. Erdogan emphasized the importance of the rebel coalition advancing through government-held areas smoothly during a press briefing in Istanbul. He highlighted that despite previous attempts to engage in dialogue with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for a collaborative approach towards Syria's future, no positive response was received.
Throughout the years-long civil war in Syria, Turkey has played a significant role as a key stakeholder. Erdogan's administration has backed rebel groups and deployed Turkish forces to maintain control over the rebel-held territories in northern Syria. Earlier this year, Erdogan publicly expressed his willingness to meet with Assad, with the aim of improving relations and addressing the refugee crisis resulting from millions of Syrians fleeing the regime.
Despite these diplomatic efforts, the proposed meeting did not materialize. The Syrian National Army, acting as a proxy group for Turkey, played a crucial role in the recent rebel takeover of Aleppo. Initially, Turkey attempted to halt the anti-regime offensive to prevent further escalation in the regional conflicts affecting Lebanon and Gaza, as stated by a Turkish security source.
