Turkey's Fidan says Israel is 'biggest obstacle' to Syria's development

In a television interview, Fidan said that discussions with the United States are focused on preventing further Israeli advances in Syria. He indicated that Türkiye, the U.S., and Syria are planning a trilateral meeting to address security concerns, as the Trump administration seeks a comprehensive approach to the Syrian crisis.

Fidan also discussed Syria's institutional challenges, noting that state institutions are new and require development. He explained that recent incidents, such as those in Latakia and Sweida, disrupted the normalization process. He confirmed that nearly 500,000 Syrian refugees have returned home, emphasizing the need for their return to support the Syrian economy and labor force.

Regarding armed groups, Fidan mentioned that a major transition has been achieved in gathering them under a single armed forces structure, excluding the YPG for now. He stressed that the withdrawal of the YPG from Arab-populated areas is a top priority and warned of potential conflicts if this issue remains unresolved.