Hakan Fidan, Turkey’s Foreign Minister, claimed that Turkey convinced Russia and Iran not to intervene militarily during the attack by opposition forces that led to Bashar al-Assad’s downfall. Speaking on NTV, Fidan emphasized the importance of engagement with both nations to minimize casualties and avoid bloodshed. He noted that if Assad had received support, the opposition’s victory could have been prolonged and bloody. Additionally, Fidan stated that Turkey’s strategic goal is the elimination of the Kurdish militia YPG, which it considers a terrorist group.

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