Latest news with #TurkishDefenseMinistry
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Turkey to provide Syria with weapon systems, equipment under new accord
Turkey has been growing impatient with the lack of implementation of a March deal to integrate the SDF into the Syrian state apparatus. Turkey will provide weapons systems and logistical tools to Syria under a military cooperation accord signed on Wednesday, a Turkish Defense Ministry source said, adding that Ankara would also train the Syrian army in using such equipment if needed. Turkey, a NATO member, has been one of Syria's main foreign allies since the ousting of president Bashar al-Assad last year. It has vowed to help train and restructure Syria's armed forces, rebuild the country and its state institutions, and support efforts to protect Syrian territorial integrity. In a first step towards a comprehensive military cooperation accord that they have been negotiating for months, Turkey and Syria inked a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday after extensive meetings between their foreign and defense ministers, and intelligence chiefs. "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," the Turkish Defense Ministry source told reporters on Thursday. Turkey grows impatient over SDF integration into Syrian state Turkey has been growing impatient with what it calls the lack of implementation of a March deal between Damascus and the Kurdish-led, US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces for integrating the SDF into the Syrian state apparatus. Ankara has warned of military action against the SDF, which it considers a terrorist organization and against which it has carried out cross-border operations in the past. It has said that clashes between the SDF and Syrian government forces earlier this month and a conference held by the SDF calling for a review of Syria's constitutional declaration threatened the country's territorial integrity. The Turkish source said the SDF had not met any of the conditions of the March deal and reiterated Ankara's accusation that its actions were undermining Syria's political unity. "Our expectation is full compliance with the agreement that was signed and its urgent implementation in the field," the source added. Solve the daily Crossword
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Turkey to provide weapons and support to Syria under new defense agreement
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey will provide weapons, military equipment, and logistical support to Syria under a newly signed defense cooperation agreement, Turkish Defense Ministry officials said Thursday. The announcement came a day after Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler and Syria's Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation on military training and consultancy, reinforcing Turkey's support to Syria's interim government. Syria last month requested Turkey's support to strengthen its defense capabilities following sectarian violence in the country that also drew intervention by Israel. Under the agreement, Turkey would share its 'knowledge and experience' and supply military equipment, weapons systems and logistical materials to help strengthen the country's capabilities, Turkish Defense Ministry officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to be quoted by name. Syria's newly formed interim government has faced mounting challenges in restoring orde r and addressing the deep scars left by nearly 14 years of civil conflict, following the ouster of former President Bashar Assad by Islamist-led rebel forces in December. Most recently, hundreds were killed in clashes in the southern province of Sweida between government forces and local Bedouin tribesmen on one side and fighters from the Druze minority on the other. Turkey has been supportive of Syria's new administration, which is formed largely by rebels that Ankara backed during the civil war. Also Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned Israel and Kurdish fighters to cease actions threatening Syria's stability, accusing them of undermining the country's efforts to reestablish itself after more than a decade of civil war. Speaking during a joint news conference Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in Ankara, Fidan accused the U.S.-allied and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, of stalling the implementation of an agreement that was reached in March to merge with the Syrian army. Last week, representatives of Syria's various ethnic and religious groups held a conference in the northeastern Syrian city of Hassakeh — which is under the SDF's control — and called for the formation of a decentralized state and the drafting of a new constitution that guarantees religious, cultural and ethnic pluralism. The Syrian government criticized the meeting, and alleged that among the attendees were some with secessionist ambitions. It said that as a result it long longer intends to join planned talks with the SDF in Paris that had been agreed upon in late July. No date had yet been set for the Paris talks.
LBCI
5 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Turkey to help Syria with weapon systems, equipment under new accord, source says
Turkey will provide weapons systems and logistical tools to Syria under a military cooperation accord signed on Wednesday, a Turkish Defense Ministry source said, adding that Ankara would also train the Syrian army in using such equipment if needed. Turkey, a NATO member, has been one of Syria's main foreign allies since the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad last year. It has vowed to help train and restructure Syria's armed forces, rebuild the country and its state institutions, and support efforts to protect Syrian territorial integrity. "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," the Turkish Defence Ministry source told reporters on Thursday. Reuters
Arab News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Turkiye to help Syria with weapon systems, source says
ANKARA: Turkiye will help Syria with the provision of weapons systems and logistical tools under a military cooperation accord signed on Wednesday, a Turkish defense Ministry source said on Thursday, adding that Ankara would also train Syria's army in the use of such equipment if needed. In a first step toward a comprehensive military cooperation agreement, Turkiye and Syria signed a memorandum of understanding on military training and consultancy after talks between their foreign, defense ministers, and intelligence chiefs. The source told reporters in Ankara that the Kurdish-led and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had not met any of the conditions set out in a March agreement with Damascus on the group's integration into Syria's state apparatus, and added Ankara expected it to urgently respect the deal.
Shafaq News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Ankara, Damascus ink pact to develop Syrian army capabilities
Shafaq News – Damascus / Ankara Turkish and Syrian defense ministers signed, on Wednesday, a memorandum of understanding on joint military cooperation, aimed at developing the Syrian Arab Army's capabilities and advancing security sector reforms. The Turkish Defense Ministry revealed in a post on X that the agreement was signed in Ankara by Turkish Minister Yaşar Güler and his Syrian counterpart Murhaf Abu Qasra following talks at the Turkish Ministry of Defense. The discussions, which also involved Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and intelligence chief Hussein Salameh, covered bilatera l and regional defense and security issues. Millî Savunma Bakanı Yaşar Güler, ülkemize resmî bir ziyaret gerçekleştiren Suriye Savunma Bakanı Murhef Ebu Kasra, Dışişleri Bakanı Esad Hasan Şeybani ve Genel İstihbarat Başkanı Hüseyin El Seleme ile Millî Savunma Bakanlığında bir araya geldi. İkili ve bölgesel savunma ve… — T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) August 13, 2025 According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the memorandum outlined a framework for regular exchanges of military personnel for specialized training programs designed to enhance operational readiness and improve interoperability. The training will cover areas such as counterterrorism, mine clearance, cyber defense, military engineering, logistics, and peacekeeping operations in line with international standards. The agreement also provides for the deployment of technical experts to assist in modernizing military systems, organizational structures, and command capabilities. The cooperation is expected to support the restructuring of Syrian defense institutions and reduce the risk of violations by untrained armed factions, in line with broader state-building efforts under the 'New Syria' initiative.
