Turkey has declared that its military forces will not withdraw from northern Syria until the security of its borders is fully guaranteed.
This announcement comes as Turkish forces have escalated drone attacks against positions held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler stated that Turkey might consider withdrawing its troops from Syria once the security of the Turkish borders is assured.
He emphasized that the issues in the region stem from the power vacuum created by the Syrian government. If the Syrian authorities had the capability to control the border area, the situation would not have escalated to this extent.
Speaking on the sidelines of the final phase of the “Efes 2024” military exercises in Izmir, western Turkey, Guler expressed Turkey’s readiness to support the adoption of a comprehensive constitution in Syria, conduct free elections, ensure a safe environment, and achieve complete normalization.
He noted that current communications between Ankara and Damascus regarding the normalization of relations are limited to meetings within the framework of the “Astana process,” which is facilitated by Turkey, Russia, and Iran.
The Turkish military presence in northern Syria remains a complex point of contention with Damascus, hindering the progress of normalization talks.
Regarding rumors of a planned military operation against the SDF in Syria, Guler denied any such preparations.
He asserted that the Turkish military is always in a state of readiness and conducts operations as needed. The Turkish forces are currently executing robust, continuous, and comprehensive strikes, achieving significant successes in the fight against terrorism, rather than limited, short-term military operations as done in the past.
Guler highlighted the increased Turkish military presence in northern Syria, stating, “Previously, we had three special forces brigades (commandos) in northern Syria. Now, we have over 20 brigades, almost all of which are actively deployed in the field.”
He explained that these forces remain in the areas they have cleared, meaning that instead of conducting limited and time-bound military operations, they are now delivering strong, ongoing, and comprehensive strikes that yield significant successes in the war against terrorism.
Guler credited this new security approach with incapacitating the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its Syrian extension, the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the main components of the SDF. He claimed that the PKK and YPG are now unable to mobilize personnel or transport weapons.
The Turkish defense minister also criticized the United States for its support of the YPG in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), arguing that this cooperation is inconsistent with NATO alliance principles and jeopardizes the territorial integrity of Syria and Iraq.
Guler reiterated that if the goal is to combat ISIS, cooperation should be with allies, not with terrorists. He pointed out that Turkey has fought against ISIS and eliminated thousands of its extremists, thus contributing significantly to the liberation of Syria from ISIS control.
In conclusion, Guler reaffirmed that Turkey will not allow any developments that threaten its national security or the territorial integrity of its neighbors.
