Turkish FM rejects Trump claim of Ankara 'takeover' in Syria

Image

Istanbul – Turkey on Wednesday rejected US President-elect Donald Trump's claim that the rebel ouster of Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad was an "unfriendly takeover" by Ankara.

"We wouldn't call it a takeover, because it would be a grave mistake to present what's been happening in Syria" in those terms, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told broadcaster Al Jazeera in an interview.

"For Syrian people, it is not a takeover. I think if there is any takeover, it's the will of the Syrian people which is taking over now."

On Monday, Trump said: "The people that went in (to Syria) are controlled by Turkey and that's ok."

"Turkey did an unfriendly takeover, without a lot of lives being lost," the billionaire businessman told reporters.

Since the early days of the anti-Assad revolt that erupted in 2011, Turkey has been seen as a key backer of the opposition to his rule.

It has hosted political dissenters as well as millions of refugees and also backed rebel groups fighting the army.

Related Articles

Arab League contemplates forming joint military force

This also comes amid growing animosity between Egypt and Ethiopia over the recent commissioning of the Grand Renaissance Dam.

  • World

    15-09-2025

  • 01:41PM

Türkiye denies reports Israel targeted its forces in Syria

The strike killed five Hamas members and one Qatari security officer. Hamas later confirmed that its top leadership survived the attack.

  • World

    11-09-2025

  • 11:59AM