Türkiye will provide Syria with weapons systems, logistics and military training under a new cooperation deal aimed at bolstering Syrian state forces and territorial integrity, a Turkish Defence Ministry source said on Thursday.
The agreement, signed on Wednesday following months of negotiation, marks the first formal military cooperation between Ankara and Damascus since the ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2024.
The memorandum of understanding was finalised during high-level meetings involving foreign and defence ministers as well as intelligence officials from both countries. It provides for the coordination of military planning, procurement of equipment, and, where necessary, Turkish-led training of Syrian troops.
“The memorandum aims to coordinate, plan military training and cooperation, provide consultancy, information and experience sharing, ensure the procurement of military equipment, weapon systems, logistical materials and related services,” a Turkish Defence Ministry source told reporters on Thursday.
The deal underscores Türkiye’s growing role in Syria following the power vacuum left by Assad’s fall and comes amid renewed tensions with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which are backed by the U.S.
Ankara has expressed frustration over the SDF’s failure to implement a March agreement with Damascus, which was intended to integrate the group into Syrian state structures. The SDF’s recent clashes with government forces and a political conference calling for constitutional reforms have been cited by Türkiye as threats to Syria’s territorial unity.
“The SDF has not met any of the conditions of the March deal,” the Turkish source said. “Our expectation is full compliance with the agreement that was signed and its urgent implementation in the field.”
Türkiye has previously carried out cross-border military operations against the SDF, which it designates a terrorist organisation due to its links with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
The accord comes as Türkiye reiterates its support for rebuilding Syria’s armed forces and public institutions, as well as reinforcing the country’s borders amid ongoing instability in the region.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 2nd of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Democrat Zohran Mamdani officially took office as New York City’s mayor on Thursday, beginning his term with a public swearing-in ceremony on the steps of City Hall.
Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of targeting civilians during New Year attacks, as intensified fighting coincided with U.S.-led efforts to push both sides towards ending the nearly four-year war.
Dozens of people are feared dead and around 100 others injured after an explosion tore through a crowded bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, authorities said.
At least 47 people were killed and 112 injured after a fire broke out at a crowded bar in the Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana during New Year’s Eve celebrations, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Italian media on Thursday.
India has approved a major arms deal with Israel valued at approximately $8.7 billion, highlighting the deepening defence partnership between the two countries.
Russian athletes will not be allowed to represent their country at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics even if a peace deal is reached with Ukraine, International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry said in an interview with an Italian newspaper.
India and Pakistan on Thursday exchanged lists of nuclear facilities as well as civilian prisoners, under long-standing bilateral agreements, according to official statements from both countries.
U.S. authorities say they have thwarted an ISIS‑inspired terrorist attack planned for New Year’s Eve in the town of Mint Hill, North Carolina, arresting an 18‑year‑old suspect just hours before the alleged assault was due to take place.
The Head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami unveiled that the country’s civilian nuclear program has been the target of industrial sabotage by the Israeli and the U.S. intelligent agencies for the last three decades.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Friday to come to the aid of protesters in Iran if security forces fire on them, days into unrest that has left several dead and posed the biggest internal threat to Iranian authorities in years.
A U.S.-backed initiative is quietly transforming the South Caucasus, linking Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan through a high-security transit corridor. According to PBS News, the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIP) could shift regional trade and politics.
The Washington Accords, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, have reshaped the strategic balance in the South Caucasus and strengthened America’s position. According to The Washington Times, the shift reflects a broader realignment driven by security, transport corridors.
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