On Friday, Turkey made a critical appeal to Russia and Iran, urging them not to engage militarily in Syria to support Bashar al-Assad’s regime as Islamist-led rebels advanced towards Damascus. This offensive ultimately led to Assad’s removal from power.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, detailed the diplomatic efforts during an interview with Turkey’s private NTV television. “The most important thing was to talk to the Russians and Iranians to ensure they didn’t enter the equation militarily. We had meetings with them, and they understood,” Fidan explained. These discussions were pivotal, as both Moscow and Tehran have been staunch allies of Assad since the Syrian civil war began in 2011.
Fidan outlined the potential consequences of Russian and Iranian intervention, emphasizing that although the opposition could eventually triumph with determination, such support for Assad would have prolonged and bloodied the conflict. He explained that Turkey’s diplomatic actions aimed to minimize the bloodshed in concluding the conflict.
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The foreign minister also commented on Assad’s allies realizing the futility of their continued support. “They quickly realized the game was up, that investing further in Assad was pointless, and there was no point anymore,” Fidan added. This shift played a crucial role in the rapid developments that culminated in the change of Syria’s leadership.
