Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at a rally in Sakarya on the evening of December 13, 2024, announced his intention to include a number of Syrian cities, such as Aleppo, Idlib, Damascus and Raqqa, into Turkey. 

"Aleppo, Idlib, Damascus and Raqqa will become our provinces, like Antep, Hatay and Urfa," - Erdogan said, drawing thunderous applause from the crowd. 

This statement immediately caused a wide international resonance. The words of the Turkish leader were called a gross violation of Syria's sovereignty and a contradiction to international law.

Experts believe that Erdogan's statement may be aimed at strengthening nationalist sentiments within the country ahead of parliamentary elections in Turkey scheduled for spring 2025. 

At the same time, the Turkish authorities continue active military and economic activities in the northern regions of Syria, which raises concerns about the possible annexation of these territories. In particular, since 2016, Turkey has carried out several military operations in northern Syria under the pretext of fighting terrorists, which has strengthened its presence in the region.

Experts note that any attempt to occupy Syria will lead to opposition from the United States, which could threaten a new armed conflict on the territory of the Arab Republic.