Turkey’s administration is calling for peace as unrest against Syrian refugees escalates in the central Melikgazi region and beyond. Violence erupted following the arrest of a Syrian man accused of sexually assaulting a seven-year-old Syrian girl in Kayseri. Turkish locals, incensed by reports of the incident, overturned vehicles in Kayseri and set fire to Syrian-owned stores, demanding the expulsion of Syrians from the country. The turmoil extended to Hatay province, where demonstrators set ablaze a Syrian grocery shop. According to Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, the riots caused destruction to properties and belongings of Syrian individuals, with 474 people detained for their actions against Syrians. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounced the violence, attributing it to opposition parties fueling the unrest. The clashes highlight escalating anti-refugee sentiments in Turkey, particularly towards Syrians, influenced by the nation’s economic crisis and rising inflation rates. Xenophobic protests targeting Syrians have occurred previously, reflecting growing nationalist sentiment amid economic challenges in Turkey. The anti-Syrian riots rekindle memories of similar incidents in 2021, emphasizing underlying tensions between local residents and Syrian refugees. In Syria, retaliatory riots flared in opposition-held territories in response to the violence in Turkey, with protesters expressing solidarity with Syrian communities in Turkey. The protests revealed underlying frustrations with the treatment and perceived oppression of Syrian refugees, urging Turkey to address violence against Syrians. Concerns arose over budding reconciliation efforts between Turkey and Syria, signaling potential political ramifications in the region.