ANKARA (Reuters) – Fighting in the western Syrian city of Latakia threatens to undermine efforts to achieve unity and solidarity in Syria, Turkey’s foreign ministry said on Friday, adding that “such provocations” must not be allowed to jeopardise peace.
It was the first comment by Turkey, a close ally of the Islamist-led government in Damascus, on Syrian security forces’ battles with fighters believed to be linked to ousted leader Bashar al-Assad.
“Intensive efforts are underway to establish security and stability in Syria,” ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said on X, adding that Turkey opposed any action targeting the right of Syrians to live in peace and that Ankara supported Damascus.
(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Huseyin Hayatsever; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
