Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa - also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani - in Damascus on Sunday, Turkey's foreign ministry said, without providing further details.

By bnm Gulf bureau Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan conducted his first diplomatic visit to Damascus on December 22, the Syrian government's social media account reported. Fidan met with Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa,

Turkey believes Syria's new rulers, including the Syrian National Army (SNA) armed group which Ankara backs, will drive Kurdish YPG fighters from all territory they occupy in northeastern Syria, Defence Minister Yasar Guler said on Sunday.

Turkey will do "whatever it takes" to ensure its security if the new Syrian administration cannot address Ankara's concerns about U.S.-allied Kurdish groups it views as terrorist groups, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Friday warned Turkey against military escalation in areas controlled by Kurdish militia in north-eastern Syria. "The security of Kurds in particular is essential for a free and secure future for Syria,

Syria’s leadership isn’t the only aspect of the country to be changing as a result of this month’s toppling of longtime dictator, Bashar al-Assad. The blurring of its borders is also underway — from Israel to the southwest and Turkey to the north.

If Turkey decides to arm the rebel forces, it is unclear how Israel will respond and whether it will be able to thwart the transfer of American-backed weapons.

While Turkey backs the HTS regime, Israel is destroying its military capacity and claiming territory – fuelling fears of fragmentation.