Türkiye to host regional summit in April on counter-Daesh operations: Report

Türkiye will reportedly host a regional summit in April as part of efforts to establish a joint operation center involving Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Ankara to combat Daesh terrorist group, according to Turkish and Arab sources speaking to Al-Monitor.

Technical discussions on the initiative reportedly are already underway.

Formation of regional coalition

Türkiye initially proposed forming a four-nation coalition with Jordan, Iraq and Syria to strengthen counterterrorism efforts.

However, Lebanon was later added to the mechanism at Beirut’s request, ahead of the upcoming summit in Amman, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

The initiative aims to enhance intelligence-sharing, coordinate military efforts, and bolster security cooperation among regional stakeholders in response to the persistent threat posed by Daesh.

Recent 5-nation security summit in Amman

Recently Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yasar Guler, and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) chief Ibrahim Kalin participated in a five-nation security summit in Amman on March 9, alongside their counterparts from Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria.

A joint statement later issued by Türkiye, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria condemned all attempts to undermine Syria’s security and expressed support for its government.

The statement highlighted several critical points, including:

• Supporting Syria’s reconstruction efforts on secure and stable foundations.
• Condemning any attempts to undermine Syria’s sovereignty and security.
• Rejecting Israeli aggression against Syrian territory and calling for an end to Israeli violations.
• Welcoming the outcomes of the Syrian National Dialogue Conference.
• Establishing a joint operation center to combat terrorism and support international efforts against Daesh.
• Coordinating efforts to combat drugs and arms smuggling and organized crime.
• Mobilizing international support for Syria’s reconstruction.
• Emphasizing the need to lift sanctions on Syria.
• Enhancing economic, trade, and investment cooperation in the region.
• Creating conditions for the safe return of Syrian refugees, in line with international law.

One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the decision to reconvene for a second round of talks in Türkiye in April. This follow-up meeting will build upon the discussions and address decisions aimed at furthering regional stability and cooperation.

Participants also underscored the importance of continued collaboration and reaffirmed their commitment to upholding international law, supporting the Syrian people, and working toward peace and stability.