Syria: Premature to initiate troop withdrawal for Turkish forces
Turkey's Ironclad Stance on Syria: A Long, Tough Gamble
Turkey's military boots, numbering more than 20,000, ain't budging from Syrian soil anytime soon. Defense Minister Yasar Guler spilled the beans in a snappy interview with Reuters, revealing that a pullout isn't on the cards, not just yet. Considering the new power structure in Damascus, it's premature to discuss a troop withdrawal, Guler explained. For Turkey's troops to vacate Syria, peace, stability, and complete elimination of terror threats, guaranteed border security, and the dignified return of refugees are crucial prerequisites.
Turkey's grip on Syria's northern territories is tight as a tick, with scores of outposts built following a series of offensives against Kurdish militias deemed as terrorists. Turkey's primary focus? Preserving Syria's territorial integrity, unity, and eliminating terrorism. Ankara extends a hand to the new Syrian administration in this mission, even offering military training and steering Syria's defense capabilities in the right direction – details kept under wraps.
Syria, though, has found itself a new buddy in Turkey. In the power-struggle that toppled ex-president Bashar al-Assad back in December, ending the Assad family's five-decade rule, Turkey promised to chip in for Syria's reconstruction and help facilitate the return of millions of Syrian war refugees. Turkey played a pivotal role in lifting US and European sanctions against Syria late last month.
But Israeli concerns loom large. Turkey's growing sway in Damascus risks igniting a confrontation between regional powers in Syria. Guler tried to quell these concerns, stating that Israel and Turkey hold talks to prevent military incidents in Syria. These chats aim to establish mechanisms for avoiding unwanted events, or direct conflicts, and to build a communication and coordination structure.
Turkey accuses Israel of sabotaging peace and reconstruction in Syria with its recent flurry of military operations. Ankara also takes Israel to task for its actions in the Gaza war. Israel controls the Syrian Golan Heights since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and has further expanded its control after Assad's ouster. Israel states its reason for this as concerns about the extremist nature of the new Syrian rulers. Additionally, Israel backs the Druze minority in Syria.
(This story was generated using data from Reuters and additional insights from various sources. For further inquiries, please reach out to our editorial team at [email protected] or [email protected].)
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In the context of Turkey's ongoing military presence in Syria, political discussions encompassing a potential troop withdrawal are on hold, given the unstable situation and remaining terror threats. The ongoing talks between Israel and Turkey aim to prevent military incidents and direct conflicts in Syria, reflecting the broader focus on regional politics and war-and-conflicts. General news sources report on these developments, shedding light on Turkey's complex role in Syria, which also impacts the ongoing power struggle and peace processes in the region.
