Meeting with Syria’s allies: “They realized it was no longer an idea”
The rapid advance of the rebel groups that toppled Syria’s dictator, Basha al-Assad, has taken the world by surprise. Now Turkey’s foreign minister states that Syria’s closest allies Iran and Russia gave promises not to intervene against the rebels.
– The most important thing was to enter into dialogue with the Russians and Iranians to confirm that they would not meddle militarily in the equation. We talked to them and they understood, he says during an interview.
In just one week, the jihadist rebel groups managed to take city after city and finally toppled Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and defeated his forces. Many have been surprised how it could happen so quickly – especially given Iran and Russia’s support for the dictator.
According to several experts, Turkey has had an important role in the rapid collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, which is a strategically important neighboring country for the Turks. Now Turkey’s foreign minister states that they received promises from Iran and Russia that they would not intervene militarily against the rebel groups.
– The most important thing was to enter into dialogue with the Russians and Iranians to confirm that they would not meddle militarily in the equation. We talked to them and they understood, says Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in an interview with the Turkish television channel NTV.
Meetings with Russia and Iran
Fidan also states that Syria’s main allies, Iran and Russia, had meetings with Turkey just a week or so before Assad’s fall.
– Russia and Iran realized that it was no longer an idea, he says in the interview and continues.
– The man they bet on was no longer a man to bet on. The regional and global circumstances were no longer the same. They must minimize the damage.
Want to wipe out the YPG
At the same time, Fidan announces that Turkey’s main goal in Syria is to wipe out the Kurdish YPG militia in the northern part of the country, which is controlled by the Kurds.
– First of all, our goal is to eliminate the YPG. They will either abolish themselves or be wiped out.
Turkey has previously stated that it may consider providing military support to Syria’s new government. Defense Minister Yasar Güler announces that the Turkish government “is ready to provide the necessary support if the new administration requests it”.
Last Friday, it was also announced that 50 tonnes of medical equipment will be flown into Syria via Turkey.
Fact: Turkey’s support for rebel groups
Turkey has for a long time supported various rebel groups that have been involved in controlling an area around Idlib in northwestern Syria under the collective name of the Syrian National Army. These have also had contact with HTS and analysts have assessed that the sudden offensive against Damascus seems to have taken place with at least a blessing from Turkey.