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Türkiye is training and advising Syria's armed forces while helping improve the country's defenses, and has no immediate plans for withdrawal or relocation of its troops stationed there, Defense Minister Yasar Guler told Reuters in exclusive comments.
Türkiye has emerged as a key foreign ally of Syria's new government since opposition forces- some backed by Ankara for years—ousted former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December, ending his family's five-decade rule.
The country has promised to help rebuild neighboring Syria and facilitate the return of millions of Syrian civil war refugees, playing a key role last month in getting U.S. and European sanctions on Syria lifted.
"We have started providing military training and consultancy services, while taking steps to increase Syria's defense capacity," Guler said in written answers to Reuters questions, without elaborating on specific measures.
The defense minister, appointed by President Tayyip Erdogan two years ago, emphasized that Türkiye's overall priority in Syria is preserving territorial integrity and unity while ridding the country of terrorism.
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Guler said it was too early to discuss the possible withdrawal or relocation of more than 20,000 Turkish troops currently stationed in Syria.
Ankara controls large areas of northern Syria and has established dozens of military bases there following several cross-border operations in recent years against the terrorist organization YPG-led SDF and the PKK.
The PYD/YPG, also referred to as the SDF, is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK terrorist organization. PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the U.S., and the EU. Türkiye also considers the YPG an extension of the PKK in Syria.
Troop movements 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 honourable return of people who had to flee is done," he stated.
Türkiye and Israel are continuing technical-level discussions to establish a deconfliction mechanism preventing military accidents in Syria, Guler revealed.
The talks focus on establishing "technical level meetings to establish a de-confliction mechanism to prevent unwanted events" and creating "a communication and coordination structure."
"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 normalisation," Guler told Reuters.
The newfound Turkish influence in Damascus has raised Israeli concerns and risks creating a standoff between the regional powers in Syria.
NATO member Türkiye has accused Israel of undermining Syrian peace and rebuilding efforts with its military operations in recent months. Israel conducted its latest airstrikes on southern Syria late Tuesday.
Since late 2023, Türkiye has also fiercely criticized Israel's assault on Gaza, adding to regional tensions between the two powers.
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