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Egypt rallies Arab states against Turkey in Syria

Cairo is capitalizing on anger over the Turkish intervention in Syria to unite the Arab ranks in support of Damascus.
(L to R) Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Ghait, Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Ali al-Hakim, and Assistant Secretary-General Ambassador Hossam Zaki attend the Arab Foreign Ministers 153rd annual meeting at the Arab League headquarters in the Egyptian capital Cairo on March 4, 2020. (Photo by Mohamed el-Shahed / AFP) (Photo by MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/AFP via Getty Images)
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CAIRO — Egypt is working to unite Arab states against Turkey's military presence in northern Syria and in support of Damascus’ efforts to regain its seat in the Arab League.

At Cairo's initiative, the Arab League formed a committee of foreign ministers to address what it called "Turkish interventions in Arab affairs" on Sept. 9. During a speech to the body, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry called the deployment of Turkish forces in Syria an “occupation.” The group is headed by Egypt and counts among its members Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Iraq.

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