Erdogan to Putin: Suwayda clashes a regional threat
On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that escalating violence in Syria's Suwayda province poses a threat to regional stability, according to Turkiye's Communications Directorate.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke by phone with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. The call addressed the Türkiye-Russia bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues. Stating that the clashes following the withdrawal of Syrian security forces from Suwayda…
— Republic of Türkiye Directorate of Communications (@Communications) July 18, 2025
In a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Erdogan reaffirmed Turkiye's support for Syria's sovereignty, calling for an end to external violations and stressing the need for national recovery.
The remarks follow days of deadly clashes in Suwayda between Bedouin tribal forces and Druze armed factions, with nearly 600 people reported killed.
Turning to Ukraine, Erdogan reiterated Ankara's readiness to host renewed peace talks in Istanbul, contingent on both sides agreeing to a timeline, after Russia accused US President Donald Trump of derailing diplomatic efforts after his administration unveiled a 50-day deadline for Moscow to accept a ceasefire or face sweeping new sanctions.
The proposed measures include 100% tariffs on Russian goods and secondary sanctions targeting buyers of Russian oil, alongside a fresh package of military aid to Ukraine, including missile systems.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Washington's decision was a clear signal to Kyiv to abandon negotiations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Armed tribes overrun southern Syrian villages
Shafaq News – Damascus On Friday, fighting intensified across southern Syria between armed Bedouin and Druze groups in Suwayda province. The Head of the Political Bureau of the Southern Military Council Najib Abu Fakhr told Shafaq News that more than 45 villages had been stormed and burned in recent days, with looting reported across the affected areas. 'Mass executions have taken place in several areas,' he said, warning that over 70,000 civilians have fled their homes due to the violence or fear of further attacks. Formed in February, the Southern Military Council is a Druze-led alliance composed of defected Syrian army officers, retired military personnel, and local fighters opposed to the Damascus government. Abu Fakhr added that the fighting had reached within seven kilometers of Suwayda city, raising fears of a full-scale assault. 'Despite this tragedy, we are still trying to end this war wisely and prevent a broader sectarian conflict that could inflame the Middle East,' Abu Fakhr stressed, accusing unnamed parties of exploiting the unrest for their agendas.
Rudaw Net
2 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
Syria to deploy ‘specialized force' to end Suwayda clashes
Also in Syria Damascus denies forces re-entered Druze area Syria's Druze seek access to Rojava as Kurds send humanitarian aid Syrian forces withdraw from Suwayda after Israeli strikes, rising death toll Syrian army withdraws from Suwayda following deadly clashes A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Syrian government said on Friday it will deploy a specialized force to end clashes in the Druze-majority south that have left hundreds dead. 'The competent authorities are working to deploy a specialized force to end the clashes and resolve the conflict on the ground, alongside political and security measures aimed at stabilizing the situation and ensuring the return of calm to the provinces as quickly as possible,' read a statement from the Syrian presidency. Fighting erupted on Sunday between Druze groups and Sunni Bedouin tribes in the southern province of Suwayda, which has been under the control of armed Druze groups since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December. Syria's defense and interior ministries deployed forces, along with affiliated armed factions, but on Wednesday, after Israeli bombardment, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced the withdrawal of state forces. Clashes have continued and 638 people have been killed as of Friday, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Syrian presidency expressed 'deep concern and great regret' over the deadly unrest. It accused 'armed groups operating outside the law' of imposing 'de facto control' and endangering civilians, including 'children, women, and the elderly,' the statement added. 'Do not respond to chaos with more chaos but instead protect law through law and counter aggression with justice, not vengeance,' it said. 'The Druze sect and Bedouin tribes in the south are not a sect or group unto themselves' and must be 'under one roof, under the nation,' it added. A ceasefire, announced by the Defense Ministry following an agreement with Druze leaders, was supposed to take effect on Thursday. The spiritual leader of Syria's Druze community, Hikmat al-Hajari, said they were pressured into making the deal and warned that they are facing 'extermination.'
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Syria Civil Defense loses contact with team leader
Shafaq News – Damascus The Syria Civil Defense lost contact with one of its senior responders in Suwayda during a UN evacuation mission, amid ongoing clashes between Bedouin tribal fighters and Druze armed factions in southern Syria. The organization announced in a statement that it had been unable to reach Hamza al-Amareen, head of an emergency response center, since July 16. A local woman who was with him in the vehicle said armed men stopped them, forced him out, and took the car. A brief phone call had been made the following morning, during which a man answering al-Amareen's phone said he was 'safe.' No further communication followed. Meanwhile, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) reported in a statement that several aid workers had been assaulted, an ambulance had come under fire, and a warehouse along with nearby vehicles had been burned. SARC expressed deep concern over the worsening conditions and called for the protection of civilians and relief workers, reaffirming its principles of neutrality and impartiality. The organization said it would continue providing emergency support in Suwayda and Daraa, while prioritizing volunteer safety. بيان منظمة #الهلال_الأحمر_العربي_السوري بخصوص تعرّض متطوعيها ومنشآتها لانتهاكات في المنطقة الجنوبية.A Statement Regarding Violations Against #SyrianArabRedCrescent Volunteers and Facilities in Southern #Syria. — Syrian Red Crescent (@SYRedCrescent) July 18, 2025 Earlier, the Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh confirmed in a post on X that over 570 people had been injured, 87 killed, and hundreds of families evacuated to safer areas. منذ بداية الأحداث المؤسفة وفي ظل الظروف الأمنية والإنسانية الصعبة التي تشهدها محافظة السويداء وتلبية لنداءات المواطنيين السوريين في المحافظة، قمنا في وزارة الطوارئ وإدارة الكوارث بتشكيل غرفة عمليات مشتركة، تضم الغرفة ممثلين عن الوزارات والمؤسسات الحكومية، والدفاع المدني السوري،… — Raed Al Saleh ( رائد الصالح ) (@RaedAlSaleh3) July 18, 2025
