Erdogan Did Not Announce Ambitions to Annex Syrian Cities
The Claim
Erdogan is planning to annex Syrian cities, he said: The Syrian cities that we call Aleppo, Idlib, Damascus, and Raqqa can become our provinces, like Gaziantep, Hatay and Urfa.”
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Emerging story
Social media users claim that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan wants to annex some Syrian cities: Aleppo, Idlib, Damascus, and Raqqa.
The claim stirred controversy online, especially in light of Turkey’s stance on Syria. One X user, “S p r i n t e r,” shared the video reflecting Erdogan’s previous talk in which he stated that Turkey has “no ambitions to occupy even an inch of any country's territory,” and compared it with the claimed quoted attributed to him, which is: “The Syrian cities that we call Aleppo, Idlib, Damascus, and Raqqa can become our provinces, like Gaziantep, Hatay and Urfa.”
The American media website News.am shared the claim in an article, titled: “Erdogan announced plans to annex territories of Syria to Turkey,” further fueling the controversy.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the viral claim and found it to be misleading. Erdogan’s words were misinterpreted, giving the false impression that Turkey seeks to occupy Syria.
Misinterpreted Video of Erdogan Originated the Claim
Misbar’s team searched for the viral video and found that it was cut from Erdogan's speech at the 8th Regular Provincial Congress of his AKP party in Sakarya.
The full speech of Erdogan was posted on the YouTube Channel of the Turkish President. The controversial claimed quote can be found at the timestamp 20:22.
The Turkish media outlet Artigercek reported on Erdogan’s speech under the headline “Erdogan: Aleppo, Idlib, Damascus would be our provinces.”
Artigercek detailed Erdogan’s speech. A revision of the full speech revealed that Erdogan was addressing the question, “What is Turkey doing in Syria?” Erdogan said that those who ask this question do not follow what is happening. He continued by saying that critical developments were taking place right next to Turkey.
The controversial quote originated right after he said this. Erdogan asked: “What would have happened if the conditions were different when the borders were determined in our region during World War I?” He followed his question by saying that it is “highly probable that the cities we call Aleppo, Idlib, Damascus, Hatay, and Urfa would have become our provinces.”
Turkey's Stance on Syria Following the Fall of al-Assad Regime
As Turkey supported the opposing groups fighting al-Assad, it is expected to play a significant role in the new government in Syria. Turkey's diplomatic representation in Syria, which had been absent since 2012, quickly resumed its operations following the end of the al-Assad regime—a sign of the fast pace at which the landscape in Damascus is evolving.
The head of Turkish intelligence, Ibrahim Kalın, visited Syria right after the overthrow of al-Assad. He was accompanied by Abu Mohammed al-Golani, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the rebel movement that toppled Assad. With this visit, Turkey reportedly meant to convey shared expectations with the new Syrian leadership, representing a semblance of unity in action.
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