Turkey denies reports of military bases in Syria: What’s really happenin

Recep Tayyip Erdogan — Photo: ymphotos/ Shutterstock

Turkey has denied reports of establishing two military bases in Syria, stressing that it is working on a road map to meet the military needs of the new Syrian administration, according to the Saudi-owned Asharq Al-Awsat.

An official source at the Turkish Ministry of Defense, in response to a question about reports that Turkey is preparing to establish two bases in Syria and deploy F-16 fighter jets, within the framework of a defense agreement, stressed the need to deal with news such as claims to establish the two bases, with caution and to read and understand their content carefully, pointing out that it is too early to talk about such issues.

The military source said during a weekly briefing to the Turkish Ministry of Defense on Thursday that Turkey's priority is to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria, ensure stability and prevent the activities of terrorist elements in northern Syria, especially the elements of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which lead the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and are backed by the United States.

Subscribe to our newsletter

He stressed Turkey's support for the new Syrian government's efforts to stabilize and restore normalcy throughout Syria, adding that "the Ministry of Defense is ready to provide all possible support in cases that fall within the scope of its tasks."

He added that "in line with the demands of the new Syrian administration," work will be done to prepare a joint road map to develop the capabilities of the Syrian army, and to take concrete steps in this regard.

He pointed out that in this context, the first meeting was held last week between a delegation from the Turkish Ministry of Defense and officials of the Syrian administration, and that the two sides agree on the need to preserve the unity and stability of the Syrian territory and cleanse it of the terrorist threat.

She pointed out that the Ministry of Defense is ready to provide all possible support in cases that fall within the scope of the ministry's functional area.