Erdogan warns Israel against stirring chaos in Syria from Ankara

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a speech in Ankara that Israel is doing its utmost to stir chaos in Syria, even as he welcomed positive developments there. Hürriyet Daily News reported that he spoke on 19 October at the presidential complex and described the surrounding region as a "ring of fire". Middle East Monitor quoted him as saying: "We are receiving good news from Syria, but Israel is doing its utmost to stir up chaos there too."

Hürriyet Daily News said Erdoğan pointed to the Russia-Ukraine war, Israeli attacks on Palestinians despite signed agreements, unresolved tensions in Iran and renewed fighting in Yemen, and also expressed concern over Lebanon. Middle East Monitor, citing Turkey's Anadolu News Agency, reported that he said Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, which he called a friendly and sisterly country, had significantly increased regional tensions. Hürriyet Daily News said he cited the attack on Riyadh's airport, in which many people, including pilgrims, were killed and hundreds injured. Daily Sabah said the attacks killed more than a dozen people at the airport earlier this month, and that Erdoğan spoke to a gathering of mukhtars on Mukhtars' Day on Monday.

How we got here

• In August: Daily Sabah said Erdoğan signed a joint defense agreement with Saudi and Pakistani officials, from which the Mecca Defense Alliance stems. Daily Sabah said Türkiye is part of the alliance and has pledged military assistance to Saudi Arabia in the face of Houthi attacks.
• Daily Sabah dated an Israeli strike on Abu Duhur Air Base in Syria to "last August". It said Israel claimed that Türkiye would move its troops there after the fall of the Baathist regime in Syria.
• 22 September: Qatar Standard reported that Erdoğan used his address to the UN General Assembly in New York to accuse Israel of operating with a "genocidal mindset" in the war in Gaza.
• 23 September: Qatar Standard reported, citing Indonesia's state news agency Antara, that Erdoğan urged Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to step up pressure on Israel.
• 25 September: Middle East Monitor said Erdoğan reaffirmed Turkey's support for Syria's sovereignty and unity. He said strengthening Syrian state institutions and improving their ability to combat terrorism serve the interests of the entire region.
• 19 October: Erdoğan made the Ankara remarks on Syria. Daily Sabah said they followed a weekend press conference by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which, according to the outlet, Netanyahu signaled a direct confrontation with Türkiye in the future. Hürriyet Daily News said Erdoğan also warned that Türkiye would continue to face pressure for opposing efforts to divide the region.

Hürriyet Daily News said Erdoğan told his audience that "We have kept our country out of the conflicts around us". Daily Sabah quoted him as saying: "We will remain alert to those trying to dash the hopes of our nation, undermine our morale and sow the seeds of discord in our nation."