ANKARA: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday pledged to reopen a border post on Turkiye’s southern frontier with Syria to facilitate the return of refugees after the ouster of Bashar Assad.
“In order to ease the traffic at the border, we’re opening the Yayladagi border gate,” Erdogan said, referring to a crossing on the westerly edge of the frontier that has been closed since 2013.
Turkiye, which has a long border with Syria, is home to nearly three million refugees who fled their homeland after the start of the civil war in 2011, with many hundreds flocking to cross the frontier in the wake of Assad’s departure in order to finally return home.
Although not directly involved in the militant operation that ousted Assad, Turkiye has expressed support for the move and said it hoped the strongman’s removal would allow the refugees to return home.
“The strong wind of change in Syria will be beneficial for all Syrians, especially the refugees. As Syria gains stability, voluntary returns will increase and the 13-year longing of the Syrians for their homeland will come to an end,” he said.
Turkiye to reopen Syria border post for returning refugees: Erdogan
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Turkiye to reopen Syria border post for returning refugees: Erdogan
- “In order to ease the traffic at the border, we’re opening the Yayladagi border gate,” Erdogan said, referring to a crossing on the westerly edge of the frontier
Syria, Russia discuss developing military cooperation
- Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov is visiting Syria to develop military cooperation
LONDON: Syria’s Chief of General Staff Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Naasan discussed military issues with Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov and his delegation on Wednesday.
Yevkurov is visiting Syria for several days to develop military cooperation that serves the common interests of both countries, according to Syria’s Defense Ministry.
In June, Syrian Defense Minister Maj. Gen. Murhaf Abu Qasr, Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani and General Intelligence Director Hussein Salameh met in Moscow with Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov to discuss bilateral cooperation.
Russia was a strong supporter of Bashar Assad’s former regime and played a crucial role in 2015 in halting the territorial gains of rebels during the Syrian conflict. In December 2024, it assisted Assad in fleeing the country to Moscow from Khmeimim air base near the coastal city of Latakia.
The new administration in Damascus, led by President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, has met Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, on several occasions to maintain ties with Russia and serve Syrian interests.
