Erdogan, Putin discuss clashes, Israeli strikes in Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Friday, expressing concern that the clashes in Syria pose a threat to the stability of the entire region, the Turkish presidency said in a statement.

During the call, the two leaders talked about the escalating tensions in Syria's southern province of Sweida, according to the statement.

Erdogan underlined the importance of Israel not violating Syria's sovereignty, reaffirming Türkiye's commitment to promoting stability and security in Syria, and supporting the country's recovery as soon as possible.

In a statement, the Kremlin said the two leaders had a detailed exchange of views on the events unfolding in the Middle East, including the escalation in Syria.

"They expressed deep concern over the recent surge of violence in that country, stressing that it was crucial to stabilize the situation as soon as possible through dialogue and by strengthening the national accord while respecting the legitimate rights of all members of Syria's multi-confessional society," the Kremlin statement said.

"Both sides emphasized the need to respect Syria's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity," it added.

A sudden eruption of violence in Syria's southern province of Sweida has triggered a complex and escalating crisis, exposing the deep fragility of Syria's stability just six months after the collapse of the previous government and sending shockwaves across the region.

Over the past week, Sweida has witnessed deadly intra-Syrian clashes. The fighting, initially sparked by a local dispute between the Druze community and Bedouin tribesmen, quickly escalated into a full-blown urban conflict involving Syrian interim government's forces.

By Thursday, nearly 600 people had been reported killed, including dozens of civilians and hundreds of fighters from all sides, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

As tensions escalated, Israel, citing the protection of the Druze community in Syria, launched a series of airstrikes, targeting Syrian military sites in Sweida and the capital Damascus.