Turkey

Damascus.. Turkish Embassy Commemorates "Democracy and National Unity Day"

The program began with a moment of silence and the playing of the Turkish national anthem, followed by a short film documenting the events of the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016

Muhammed Karabacak, Mahmut Nabi

July 15, 2026 • Updated: July 15, 2026

ŞAM

Damascus / Anadolu

The Turkish Embassy in Damascus organized an event to commemorate "Democracy and National Unity Day" on July 15, with the attendance of Turkish Ambassador to Syria Nuh Yılmaz, along with representatives of diplomatic missions, institutions, and media.

According to an Anadolu correspondent, the program began with a moment of silence and the playing of the Turkish national anthem, followed by a short film documenting the events of the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016.

Photo: Hişam Hac Ömer / AA

The event also included a screening of a video message from the Head of Communications of the Turkish Presidency, Burhanettin Duran, prepared as part of the symposium "On the 10th Anniversary of July 15: The Will is Our Will.. and the Victory is Our Victory."

Yılmaz said in his speech that the Gülen terrorist organization does not target Turkey alone, but is a terrorist organization and a transnational organized crime network that seeks to infiltrate the institutions of the countries where it operates.

He added that he personally witnessed the coup attempt as a state employee.

Yılmaz stressed that what happened that night was a serious assault on the constitutional order, democracy, and the popular will in Turkey.

He explained that the cohesion of the Turkish people and state institutions foiled the coup attempt and proved to the world that no force is above the will of the people.

Yılmaz pointed out that the Gülen organization hides behind multiple facades, including education, civil work, and religious activities, aiming to infiltrate state institutions and use them to serve its agenda.

He emphasized that Turkey's efforts in combating the organization have weakened it significantly on the international level, but it still continues its propaganda campaigns and seeks to strengthen its ties with entities hostile to Turkey.

Regarding Syria, Yılmaz said that the ousted Bashar al-Assad regime took a supportive stance toward the coup plotters during the 2016 coup attempt, while many Syrians and the entities that run the country today stood by Turkey.

Photo: Hişam Hac Ömer / AA

He continued: "It became clear then who stands with democracy and who stands with coups."

Yılmaz also reminded that Turkey launched its cross-border counter-terrorism military operations shortly after foiling the coup attempt.

He noted that purging state institutions of Gülen organization elements strengthened the country's security capabilities.

Photo: Hişam Hac Ömer / AA

The Turkish ambassador pointed out that Turkish-Syrian relations are entering a new phase based on mutual trust, common interests, and good neighborliness.

He stressed that combating terrorism, strengthening state institutions, and preserving the will of peoples are a shared responsibility of the two countries and the region.

He said: "We are determined to continue our joint struggle with our Syrian friends against all terrorist organizations, whether the Gülen organization, the PKK, ISIS, or any other organization."

Yılmaz concluded his speech by commemorating the martyrs of July 15 with mercy and gratitude, expressing his thanks to the wounded who stood against the coup attempt.

Turkey witnessed in mid-July 2016 a failed coup attempt carried out by limited elements of the army affiliated with the Gülen terrorist organization, during which they tried to seize control of state institutions, security and media establishments.

The Turkish government declared July 15 of each year as "Democracy and National Unity Day" in memory of 253 martyrs who died while confronting the coup attempt.