Erdogan, Assad hint at restoration of Turkiye-Syria relations

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Friday that he is not opposed to meeting with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Al-Assad to restore bilateral relations between the two countries. Turkiye severed its relations with Syria after the Syrian Civil War in 2011 and supported opponents who wanted to overthrow Al-Assad. Ankara has carried out several cross-border military operations against militants that it says threaten its national security and has established a “safe zone” in northern Syria where Turkish forces are currently stationed. However, amid a regional campaign with the primary goal of normalising relations with the Gulf states, Turkiye also says that it may restore ties with Damascus if progress is made in the fight against terrorism, the safe and […]