Turkey rushes to establish facts on the ground in Syria and offers military training

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler said on Sunday that his country was ready to provide military training to Syria's new security forces, if requested, in what could be seen as another sign of Turkey's ambition. 'Ankara to become the new boss of Damascus, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip. Erdoan.

Turkey, which borders Syria to the north, has supported rebels fighting the Assad regime during the past 13 years of the Syrian civil war. But in the past two years, as it appeared that Syria's leaders had the upper hand in the war, Turkey attempted to improve relations with Damascus. Last month, it appeared that Turkey was behind the rebel offensive that ultimately brought down the regime.

The possibility that the jihadists of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) will now reward the Turkish leader worries not only the Kurds of northern Syria, long-time enemies of Turkey, but also Israel – against whom Erdogan has become more belligerent. since the massacre of October 7.

Signs that Turkey was quick to establish the facts on the ground emerged last week. On Thursday, Turkey's intelligence chief was the first senior foreign official to visit Damascus since rebels took control of the country, where he met with rebel leaders. On Saturday, Turkey reopened its embassy in Syria, almost 15 years after it closed in response to Assad's massacre of his opponents.

“In its first statement, the new administration that toppled Assad announced that it would respect all government institutions, the United Nations and other international organizations,” Güler told reporters in Ankara in comments authorized for publication Sunday. “We think we need to see what the new administration will do and give it a chance.”

“When asked whether Turkey is considering military cooperation with the new Syrian government, Guler replied that Ankara already has military cooperation and training agreements with many countries. “(Turkey) is ready to provide the necessary support if the new administration requests it,” he added.

Turkey has a few hundred soldiers in northern Syria and has carried out four military operations there since 2016, against “threats to Turkish security”, as Guler put it. He said his government could reassess Turkey's military presence in Syria with the new leaders “when conditions are ripe.”

In his briefing to journalists, the defense minister said Turkey's main goal was and still is to abolish the Kurdish YPG, which he said is part of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), considered as a terrorist organization in Turkey and the United States.

The YPG is one of the main forces of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) which now controls some of Syria's largest oil fields. They are also a senior partner in the US-led coalition against ISIS, so its future would be a point of contention between the two countries. Ankara and Washington.

Guler said the PKK and YPG in Syria would be eliminated sooner or later and their members who he said came from outside Syria would have to leave and those who are Syrian would be forced to lay down their arms.

The defense minister also claimed that despite warnings from the United States, Turkey had not identified any resurgence of ISIS.

Turkey has previously told the United States that Ankara could deploy three commando brigades to Syria to fight Islamic State and run al-Hol, the detention camp for ISIS families, Guler said, adding that Washington rejected both offers.

“Instead, they cooperated with the PKK/YPG terrorist organization under the cover of fighting ISIS. But you can't fight a terrorist organization with another terrorist organization.”

Asked about the future involvement in Syria of Russia, a longtime ally of Assad who granted him asylum last weekend, Güler said he saw no sign of a complete Russian withdrawal.

Russia, he explained, is moving its military assets from different regions of Syria to its two bases in the country: the Hmeimim air base in Latakia and a naval base in Tartus.

“I don't think the Russians are going to leave (Syria). They will do everything they can to stay,” he said.

On Sunday, a week after the fall of the Assad regime, most schools reopened. Foreign journalists who were at a Damascus boys' high school said students appeared happy and cheered when the principle raised the flag of Free Syria.

In one class, a student stuck the new flag on a wall. “I am optimistic and very happy,” said student Salah al-Din Diab. “I walked down the street afraid of being drafted into the army. I was afraid when I reached a checkpoint.”