Syrian leader to visit key backer Turkey on Friday

ISTANBUL — Syria's new leader Ahmed Al Sharaa will on Friday visit Turkey, a key supporter of his Islamist-led coalition which toppled president Bashar al-Assad, a Turkish official said on Monday.

Sharaa will take part in a diplomatic forum in the southern Turkish city of Antalya, Omer Celik, spokesman for the AKP party of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, told reporters.

It marks Sharaa's second trip to Turkey since his rebels' ouster of Assad on December 8 ended nearly 14 years of civil war, after Erdogan welcomed the interim Syrian president to the capital Ankara in early February.

Both leaders have vowed to work together to fight forces they deem "terrorist groups" in the war-torn country.

The visit comes in the same week as Sharaa's first trip as leader to the United Arab Emirates, according to Syria's foreign ministry.

Last week Israel denounced Ankara's "negative role" in the Middle Eastern country.

"We don't think Syria should be a Turkish protectorate," said Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

In response Turkey's foreign ministry on Thursday said "the provocative statements made by the Israelis towards our country reflect their mentality and the expansionist and aggressive policies of the racist Israeli government".

According to a Syrian source familiar with the matter, Turkey is seeking to establish military positions in Syria, including inside the T4 military airbase in Homs province.

Israel launched strikes targeting the base last week.

Turkey, which is home to nearly three million Syrian refugees, has called for a total lifting of international sanctions on Syria to help its post-war reconstruction.