Erdogan: There is now a new reality in Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that "there is now a new reality in neighboring Syria," where Turkey has long supported opposition forces and carried out incursions against Kurdish forces it considers terrorists.

He was speaking as Syrian rebels entered the outskirts of the city of Homs, opening a path towards Damascus in a rapid advance, as front lines collapse and government forces fight to save President Bashar al-Assad's 24-year rule.

"There is now a new reality in Syria, politically and diplomatically. And Syria belongs to the Syrians with all its ethnic, sectarian and religious elements," Erdogan said in a speech in the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep.

"The people of Syria are the ones who will decide the future of their country," he added.

Ankara has for years supported Syrian opposition forces aiming to overthrow Assad, backed by Iran and Russia.

"As Turkey, our wish is for our neighbor Syria to quickly regain the peace, stability and tranquility it has desired for 13 years," he added.

Erdogan added that the best way for the region to deal with the situation would be for "responsible actors and all international organizations" to support preserving Syria's territorial integrity.

A key concern for Turkey is the presence in northern Syria of the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which it considers a terrorist group, closely linked to militants in Turkey, who have fought a 40-year insurgency against the Turkish state.