Turkey says ceasefire in Syria may take place within hours

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Wednesday that a ceasefire could take hold in Syria within the next three to four hours, as Israeli military strikes continue to target Syrian government forces in Sweida and Damascus.

“By working together with the Americans, I hope that within the next three to four hours, we will enter a period of calm and ceasefire,” he told journalists on Wednesday in New York.
Fidan said he was coordinating Ankara’s efforts with Jordan and Saudi Arabia, seeking to halt hostilities not only between government forces and the Druze militia in the area but also to address broader regional tensions.

“It is, of course, unacceptable that some of the Druze there are being provoked and supported by Israel, and are becoming a source of instability,” he said.

“The clashes between the Druze and the Bedouins must be brought to an end, ideally through the intervention of security forces.”

Fidan emphasized that while Turkey wants to prevent civilian casualties, it is equally important for the central government to assert its authority throughout the country to ensure security.

“At the same time, we conveyed our views and suggestions on this issue to the Israelis through our intelligence agency,” he added.