Turkey Acknowledges Military Support for Syria’s Army, Rules Out Withdrawal of Troops
Turkey boosts Syria's military, won't withdraw troops yet, says defense chief. Aims to aid reconstruction, counter 'terrorism' amid regional tensions.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Turkey is actively providing military training and consultancy to Syria’s armed forces while enhancing its defense capabilities, and has no immediate plans to withdraw or relocate the more than 20,000 Turkish troops currently stationed in the country, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler told Reuters in a written statement on Tuesday.
The remarks, disclosed in an exclusive report by Reuters, come amid Ankara’s deepening ties with Syria’s post-Assad transitional government.
Turkish Role in Syria’s Reconstruction
Turkey has pledged to play a leading role in rebuilding war-torn Syria and facilitating the voluntary return of millions of refugees. According to Reuters, Ankara was instrumental in the recent lifting of U.S. and European sanctions imposed on Damascus.
“We have started providing military training and consultancy services, while taking steps to increase Syria's defense capacity,” said Guler, though he did not specify the nature or scope of these measures.
Appointed to his post by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan two years ago, Guler noted that discussions of troop withdrawal are premature under the current conditions.
“This can only be re-evaluated when Syria achieves peace and stability, when the threat of terrorism in the region is fully removed, when our border security is fully ensured, and when the honorable return of people who had to flee is done,” he stated.
Territorial Integrity, Border Security, and Anti-Terrorism
Turkey’s current strategy in Syria is centered on ensuring the country’s territorial unity and eradicating what Ankara refers to as terrorist threats. Over recent years, Turkey has conducted several cross-border military operations in northern Syria (Western Kurdistan), targeting Kurdish groups such as the People's Defense Units (YPG), which it designates as affiliates of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a designated terrorist organization in Turkey, EU and U.S.
De-Confliction Talks with Israel
Amid growing tensions in the region, Turkey and Israel are reportedly engaged in ongoing “technical level meetings” to avoid military incidents in Syrian airspace, according to the Reuters report.
“Our efforts to form this line and make it fully operational continue. Yet it should not be forgotten that the de-confliction mechanism is not a normalization,” Guler emphasized.
According to Reuters, Turkey has recently accused Israel of jeopardizing Syrian reconstruction through its continued military strikes, including recent attacks in southern Syria. Although Ankara has sharply criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Syria, both countries are quietly attempting to establish a de-confliction framework aimed at avoiding unintended clashes in a highly volatile theater.
“These are technical level meetings to establish a de-confliction mechanism to prevent unwanted events,” Guler said, referring to the initiative as part of “a communication and coordination structure.”
As the region’s post-conflict trajectory unfolds, Ankara’s overt military and political backing of Syria’s transitional government marks a new chapter in regional diplomacy, placing Turkey at the heart of efforts to shape Syria’s future security and governance landscape.
