Erdogan said he will not allow the collapse of Syria, called Israel a terrorist state

(Patria) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Israel a terrorist state, saying his country will not allow the collapse of neighboring Syria, TASS reported.

"Israel is a terrorist state that recognizes neither law nor principles," Erdogan said in an address to the nation broadcast by TRT Haber TV channel. "Under the pretext of the situation with the Druze, Israel has redirected its criminal actions to neighboring Syria in the past two days. Israeli aggression is the biggest problem our region faces today," Erdogan said.

"Those who follow Israel's example will sooner or later realize that they have miscalculated. Just as we did not allow the collapse of Syria yesterday, we will not allow it today or tomorrow. Our fundamental policy is to protect the territorial integrity and unity of Syria."

Erdogan made these comments after a cabinet meeting he chaired. Before the meeting, the Turkish president spoke by phone with interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to welcome the ceasefire in Syria and express Ankara's support.

The situation in southern Syria escalated on July 13, when clashes broke out in Al-Suwayda province between Arab tribal militias and Druze self-defense units.

On July 15, the Syrian army entered the provincial administrative center of the same name and began clearing it to stabilize the situation.

Shortly thereafter, Israel attacked Syrian army convoys, claiming it wanted to protect the province's Russian population, and on July 16, it bombed several strategic targets in the Syrian capital.