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Türkiye has begun training Syrian forces under a security agreement signed between the two countries in August, multiple sources told Middle East Eye.
According to one source, around 300 Syrians—mostly soldiers, along with some police officers—are currently receiving training at two bases in central and eastern Türkiye.
A second source said Ankara plans to train about 5,000 Syrian soldiers and police in the short term, with the figure expected to reach at least 20,000 over the medium to long term.
At the same time, Turkish security forces have begun withdrawing from northern Aleppo, where they have been stationed for about eight years as part of the Syria Task Force, which helped secure areas seized from the Islamic State group and Kurdish fighters.
According to the second source, the task force, largely made up of gendarmerie units under the interior ministry, has started evacuating bases. Equipment and supplies from these sites are being transferred to Türkiye’s Hatay, Gaziantep, and Kilis provinces.
Bases in Syrian border towns such as Azaz and Jarablus have already been evacuated and handed over to security forces affiliated with the new Syrian administration, the source added. Personnel and military hardware pulled back from Aleppo have been temporarily redeployed inside Türkiye .
A Syrian government spokesperson said they weren't aware of the training .
Türkiye is providing training, consultancy, and security cooperation to Syria at the request of the Syrian government. On July 23, Damascus formally requested Ankara’s support to strengthen its defense capabilities and combat terrorist organizations, with a particular focus on Daesh.
Defense Ministry sources announced that Türkiye has signed a joint training and consultancy memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Syria, reinforcing its commitment to Syrian political unity and territorial integrity amid criticism of the terrorist organization YPG-led SDF's separatist activities.
They emphasized that Türkiye would continue supporting Syria's counterterrorism efforts using Turkish Armed Forces' knowledge, experience and expertise while helping increase Syria's defense and security capacity.
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