Syrian opposition

The Syrian military and its ally Russia conducted deadly joint air raids on areas under the control of opposition forces on Monday, with the Syrian opposition army continuing its operation in Tel Rifaat.

More than 240 people, mostly combatants, were killed as intense fighting approached Syria's northern Aleppo city after opposition forces launched a major offensive on government-held areas this week, a monitor said on Nov. 29.

Syrian President Bashar Assad is not prepared to normalize ties with the Syrian opposition and, by extension, with Türkiye, the Turkish foreign minister has stated, warning that deeper instability could ensue if Damascus avoids efforts to resolve its internal problems.

Türkiye's foreign minister met on Thursday Syrian opposition figures to discuss recent developments in the Syrian conflict, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

Türkiye's efforts and principled stance for the well-being of the Syrian people are above all provocations, a Foreign Ministry statement said late on July 1 amid incidents in several Turkish cities and northern Syria.

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu held a meeting with the top representatives of the Syrian opposition groups amid Ankara's messages to the Assad regime for a political solution to the decade-old problem in Syria.

Reconciliation between the Syrian regime and the opposition groups is essential for ending the ongoing civil war in the country, Türkiye's top diplomat has said, repeating Ankara's calls on Damascus to genuinely endorse the international efforts for a political solution to the decade-old tragedy.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Sept. 9 met with Syrian opposition figures in the capital Ankara.

Çavuşoğlu met with Salem Al-Meslet, head of the National Coalition of Syrian Opposition; Anas Abdeh, president of the Syrian Negotiation Commission; and head of the Syrian Interim Government Abdurrahman Mustafa.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been re-elected for a fourth seven-year term in a presidential election on Wednesday dismissed by the opposition as a sham, news wires reported. Al-Assad won 95.1% of the valid votes, head of the Syrian parliament Hamoud Sabagh said. Some 78.6% of eligible voters cast ballots inside and outside Syria, Sabagh added at a press conference in Damascus.

The Syrian Constitutional Committee -- made up of members of the opposition, civil society, and regime -- began its second day of work on Oct. 31 in Geneva with talks on a constitutional roadmap.