Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russia’s Vladimir Putin have called for more diplomacy to tackle the renewed chaos in northern Syria.
The two leaders had a phone call on Tuesday after violence reignited in the region, with Syrian rebels making significant gains against government forces. Just last week, the rebels captured Aleppo, and they’ve now advanced towards Hama, sparking fears of further instability.
Erdogan, according to his office, stressed that Syria must not become a hotbed of chaos. While reaffirming Turkey’s support for Syria’s territorial integrity, he pushed for a “fair and lasting solution.”
He also took aim at Kurdish groups linked to the PKK, which Turkey labels a terrorist organisation. Erdogan vowed Turkey would stay firm in its fight against these groups, accusing them of exploiting the current unrest.
Putin, on the other hand, blamed “terrorist aggression” and called for swift action to bring the conflict under control. The Kremlin said the two leaders agreed on the need for closer coordination with Iran.
The latest surge in fighting has left over 600 people dead, including 104 civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Rebel advances
The rebels, led by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have mounted the largest offensive seen in Syria in years. HTS, which aims to establish an Islamic state in Syria, now controls most of Aleppo and the surrounding rural areas.
With Hama now in their sights, pressure is mounting on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has relied heavily on support from Russia and Iran.