ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey will reconsider its military presence in Syria only if its borders with the country are completely secured and the “terrorism” threat is resolved there, spokesperson for the Turkish defence ministry said on Thursday.
“The Turkish Armed Forces are present in Syria within the scope of the right to legitimate defense under international law in order to ensure the security of our country and our borders, to combat terrorism, and to prevent a terror corridor,” Zeki Akturk said in a press briefing, reported state media.
“The withdrawal of our forces from Syria is a matter that can only be reconsidered if our border security is fully ensured and the terrorist threat is completely eliminated,” he added.
Turkey has maintained a military presence in Syria for years, initially supporting armed groups against the regime of Bashar al-Assad, which has since been toppled. Turkey has been fighting Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria, whom Ankara views as a threat to its national security, for nearly a decade.
Ankara has significantly reduced its military activities in Syria since the rebels took over the country in December. Turkey is now one of the main supporters of Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government in Damascus and it has expressed readiness to provide military training to the new Syrian army.
Turkey has carried out at least three major military campaigns against the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), since 2016. Hostilities between Ankara and the US-backed SDF have significantly decreased since SDF chief Mazloum Abdi and Sharaa signed an agreement in March, which includes a nationwide ceasefire.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Friday that although Ankara has reservations about the agreement, it will give them a chance to implement it.
He accused the SDF of "dragging their feet” when it came to implementing the agreement that includes integration of the SDF and civilian institutions of northeast Syria (Rojava) into state structures.
