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Turkish Defense Ministry sources said recent attacks by the terrorist group YPG-led SDF against the Syrian government in Manbij and Aleppo countryside damage Syria's political unity and territorial integrity.
Ministry sources responded to journalists' questions following the weekly press briefing on Thursday, addressing escalating tensions between the Syrian government and the SDF terrorist group.
Defense Ministry sources noted that the SDF has not acted in accordance with the agreement it signed with the Syrian government on March 10.
"It has not escaped attention that the SDF terrorist organization has raised its voice recently, drawing strength from the clashes occurring in southern Syria. The recent attacks by the SDF terrorist organization against the Syrian government in Manbij and Aleppo countryside damage Syria's political unity and territorial integrity," the sources said.
"There is no change in our position. Türkiye will continue to support Syria's political unity and territorial integrity; in this direction, we continue to support the Syrian administration's fight against terrorist organizations, and continue training, consultancy and technical support activities it has requested to increase its defense and security capacity," the sources added.
When asked about a navigational telex (Navtex) issued for cable laying work in the Eastern Mediterranean that also covers Turkish continental shelf, ministry sources said: "Our determination regarding our rights on the continental shelf that we reported to the UN on March 18, 2020 in the Eastern Mediterranean is always demonstrated at the table and in the field."
According to Turkish sources, international law requires that activities like cable or pipeline laying and scientific research on a country's continental shelf be coordinated in advance with the coastal state. In line with this principle, Türkiye closely monitors and follows up on such matters to prevent any unauthorized activity on its continental shelf. The country does not permit any projects or initiatives—such as the Great Sea Interconnector Project—that disregard its rights or bypass coordination.
The sources detailed recent maritime enforcement actions, saying, "Within the scope of this approach, it was determined that the NAVWARN announcement published on August 5, 2025 for geophysical research by the Gibraltar-flagged FUGRO GAUSS vessel violated our continental shelf."
Following the developments, the necessary warnings were issued and a counter-Navtex was released. Air and naval units were deployed to the area to take appropriate measures. The vessel’s activities are being closely monitored, and if any attempt is made to violate Türkiye’s continental shelf, necessary action will be taken on the ground, the sources said.
The Defense Ministry reported that five more PKK terrorists who fled from shelters in northern Iraq surrendered in the past week.
Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk, Defense Ministry press and public relations advisor and ministry spokesperson, spoke at the weekly press briefing held at the ministry.
Akturk provided information on operations and search-sweep activities carried out by the Turkish Armed Forces for the country's peace, security and stability.
"In the past week, five more PKK terrorists who fled from shelters in northern Iraq surrendered, and within the scope of border security activities, 239 people were caught in the past week, seven of whom were terrorist organization members. The number of those caught while trying to cross illegally from January 1 to today has reached 4,496," Akturk said.
Emphasizing that the number of people prevented from illegally entering the country this year has reached 45,159—869 of them in the past week—Aktürk said that ongoing "tunnel destruction" operations in Syrian areas continue. An 11-kilometer tunnel was destroyed in the Manbij region last week, bringing the total length of tunnels neutralized in Tel Rifaat and Manbij to 528 kilometers.
Conveying that Israel continues to apply genocide against the Gaza people using starvation as a weapon, Akturk said Israel aims to break the resistance of the Gaza people and force them to leave their homes by prolonging ceasefire negotiations.
Akturk stated that the Israeli administration has taken unacceptable and illegal steps toward annexing the West Bank. He added that the provocative, raid-style actions by Israeli officials against Al-Aqsa Mosque on Aug. 3, along with recent annexation calls, undermine the two-state solution and hopes for peace.
"In the face of Israel's anti-peace attitude displayed in Palestine and the region, a cease-fire should be achieved immediately, and permanent peace should be established on the basis of a two-state solution," he added.
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