Ankara Demands SDF Adherence to Damascus Deal
Türkiye's MoD demands the SDF adhere to its deal with Damascus while confirming it is providing military support to the new Syrian government. The announcement, reported by TRT Haber, came alongside a major Eurofighter agreement with the UK.
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defense has issued a stark message regarding the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), demanding the group “concretely demonstrate” its compliance with a March agreement reached with Damascus, while simultaneously confirming that Ankara is now providing official military support to the new Syrian government.
In a wide-ranging weekly press briefing reported by Turkish state media outlet TRT Haber, ministry sources laid out Ankara’s evolving policy in Syria, stating that the new administration in Damascus has formally requested assistance from Türkiye.
"The Syrian administration has requested official support from Türkiye within the scope of strengthening its defense capacity and combating all terrorist organizations, especially ISIS. Our efforts to increase Syria's defense capacity are continuing," ministry sources stated.
When asked about the future integration of the SDF, which Ankara designates a terrorist organization, into the Syrian administration, the officials tied the issue directly to the implementation of a previous accord.
“As the Ministry of National Defense, we have repeatedly stated that protecting Syria's territorial integrity and sovereign rights is essential for the stability of our country and the region,” the sources said. “In this context, seeing the immediate impact on the ground of the issues agreed upon between the Syrian government and the SDF terrorist organization on March 10 will contribute to this stability. The SDF terrorist organization must concretely demonstrate its compliance with the agreement it reached with the Damascus government. Developments on this matter are being closely monitored with our relevant institutions.”
The ministry officials framed their overall policy within the goal of supporting “Syria's political unity and territorial integrity” and achieving lasting peace. They also commented on the recent clashes in Sweida and Israeli attacks on Damascus, stating that "Türkiye maintains its resolute stance on protecting Syria's territorial integrity, ensuring stability, and combating terrorist organizations."
The briefing was delivered by Ministry Spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk at the Istanbul Fair Center, coinciding with the "IDEF 2025 17th International Defense Industry Fair." Aktürk highlighted the success of the event, which he said featured over 1,400 exhibitors from 50 countries and more than 120,000 visitors from 99 countries. He noted that over 5,000 products were displayed, with 1,100 being introduced for the first time, showcasing the growing capabilities of Türkiye's defense industry.
During the fair, National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler held a series of high-level meetings. On July 22, he met with the defense ministers of Azerbaijan, Belgium, Senegal, Slovenia, and Congo, as well as senior military leaders from Pakistan and Vietnam, and the commander of the Libyan National Army Land Forces. A Memorandum of Understanding on Strengthening Mutual Military Security was signed with Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister.
A major development announced by Aktürk was a meeting between Minister Güler and the United Kingdom's Defense Minister, which resulted in the signing of a "Memorandum of Understanding for a full-scale agreement regarding Türkiye's acceptance as a Eurofighter Typhoon user."
Aktürk also provided updates on domestic military advancements and security operations. He confirmed that new domestically produced 5.56 mm SAR-56 infantry rifles have been added to the Land Forces Command’s inventory and that the new "Levent" engine was put into service on July 18. He also congratulated the Ministry's Machinery and Chemical Industry Joint Stock Company for winning five awards at the "Stevie Awards for Great Employers."
On the security front, Aktürk reported that four more PKK members surrendered in the last week and that operations, particularly Claw-Lock in the Kurdistan Region, continue to dismantle the group's infrastructure. He stated that border security remains a priority, with 207 individuals apprehended trying to cross illegally in the past week, bringing the year's total to 3,959. In Turkish-controlled areas of northern Syria, he added, 498 kilometers of tunnels have been destroyed to date.
Finally, Aktürk mentioned that on July 21, Turkish naval drones detected a Greek Coast Guard boat leaving a boat of irregular migrants near the island of Samos, after which the Turkish Coast Guard was informed and rescued the individuals.
