Turkey Backs Syrian Military, No Exit Plan for Troops—Defense Minister

Turkey is actively training and advising Syria’s armed forces and has no immediate plans to withdraw or relocate its more than 20,000 troops stationed in the country, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler said in a written response to Reuters.

“Military training and consultancy services have begun, along with steps to enhance Syria’s defense capacity,” Guler stated, though he offered no further details on the extent of the support.

Turkey has aligned itself with Syria’s new leadership following the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad in December. The move ended his family’s five-decade grip on power, and Turkey—once a key backer of anti-Assad rebels—has since repositioned itself as a strategic partner to Damascus.

Ankara has pledged to help rebuild Syria and facilitate the return of millions of refugees displaced by the civil war. It was instrumental in lobbying for the recent lifting of U.S. and EU sanctions on Syria.

The strengthening Turkish influence in Syria has sparked concern in Israel, especially as Turkey continues to expand its presence in northern Syria, where it maintains dozens of military bases following a series of cross-border offensives against Kurdish militant groups.

“Our priority is to preserve Syria’s territorial integrity, eliminate terrorism, and support stability,” Guler said. He noted that Turkish forces will only consider withdrawal once lasting peace is achieved, terrorism is eliminated, border security is ensured, and displaced Syrians can return home safely.

Meanwhile, Turkey and Israel—despite growing tensions and Turkey’s criticism of Israel’s operations in Gaza—are holding ongoing de-confliction talks to prevent military incidents in Syria. Israel conducted airstrikes in southern Syria as recently as Tuesday.

Guler confirmed that “technical-level meetings” are in progress to establish a communication and coordination mechanism aimed at avoiding unintended clashes.

“These efforts are not part of a normalization process,” he emphasized, “but rather focused on preventing unwanted events and securing communication lines.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently hosted Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Istanbul, underscoring Ankara’s growing diplomatic and military stake in Syria’s future.