(MENAFN) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday emphatically rejected any efforts to divide Syrian territory, Turkish media reported, following a recent wave of intense violence in southern Syria.

Speaking to reporters aboard his presidential aircraft, Erdogan underscored Türkiye's unwavering support for Syria’s interim government. "We firmly oppose any fragmentation of Syrian territory," he stated, according to media.

The Turkish leader accused Israel of exploiting the unrest in Syria’s Sweida province as a justification for potential military intervention, warning that such moves risk destabilizing the entire region. “The bigger strategic problem is Israel's attempt to occupy the region using this conflict as an excuse,” Erdogan was quoted saying by a local news agency.

Erdogan also confirmed ongoing diplomatic efforts with Damascus, noting that Türkiye’s intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin and Defense Minister Yasar Guler are actively engaging with their Syrian counterparts.

Following eight days of fierce fighting between Druze and Bedouin militias, a ceasefire declared Saturday has brought a precarious calm to Sweida. Human rights organizations reported full adherence to the truce by Monday.

The conflict has taken a devastating toll, with the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reporting over 1,120 fatalities. The violence has also caused widespread displacement, forcing more than 2,000 Bedouin families to flee to the neighboring Daraa province, according to official data.

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