Turkey Firm on Maintaining Military Presence in Syria
Turkey has announced that it is actively training Syria's armed forces and working to enhance its defensive capabilities, with no immediate intentions to withdraw its troops from the region.
In a written statement to Reuters, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler announced that Turkey is extending military training and advisory support to strengthen Syria’s defense capabilities under its new leadership.
Guler affirmed Turkey’s commitment to upholding Syria’s territorial integrity and bolstering counterterrorism initiatives.
The security landscape in Syria remains unstable following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime by militant groups spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), who seized control of Damascus on December 8, 2024.
Guler has stated that Ankara will maintain its military presence, which is estimated to be over 20,000 troops, until enduring peace is established, complete border security is assured, and the secure repatriation of Syrian refugees is ensured.
Turkey, a longstanding supporter of opposition factions in Syria, has solidified an extensive military presence in the northern region of the country. This follows years of cross-border operations targeting Kurdish militants, whom Turkey classifies as terrorists.
