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 the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 20 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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