Official: Turkish Armed Forces follow “fewer words, more actions” principle in Syria VIDEO

Spokesman for the Turkish Defence Ministry Zeki Aktürk has said that the Turkish Armed Forces operate in Syria upon the principle "fewer words, more actions".

DEAŞ ve PKK/PYD/YPG/SDG başta olmak üzere hangi isim adı altında olursa olsun ülkemizin ve Suriye’nin bekasına kasteden terör örgütleri ile mücadele konusunda kararlı olduğumuzu, bugüne kadar terör örgütlerine karşı alınan önleyici ve yok edici tedbirlere devam edeceğimizi bir… pic.twitter.com/8PTi08OKOf

— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) January 2, 2025

"We once again emphasise that in this new era, there is no place for terrorist organisations in Syria, and both the new Syrian administration and we are fully committed to preventing this," he said. 

"We will continue working closely and coordinating our actions with our partners to ensure the territorial integrity, political unity, security, and stability of Syria, without jeopardizing the fight against terrorism," he noted.

"We emphasise that we are fully determined to fight against terrorist organisations that threaten the survival of our country and Syria, regardless of their names, particularly IS and the PKK/PYD/YPG/SDG," Aktürk said.

He said that once the state departments in Syria begin to operate, meetings will be held to establish strategic relations between the two countries and foster cooperation in various areas. The Turkish Armed Forces will continue supporting the Syrian people and assist them in issues within their responsibility during this transitional process.

"Preparation to enhance Syria's security and defence capabilities is ongoing," Akturk added.

The PKK, a group designated as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and the EU, has been responsible for over 40,000 deaths during its 40-year campaign of violence against Türkiye, targeting civilians, including women, children, and the elderly.

The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK, and for years, it has aimed to create a terrorist corridor along Türkiye’s border.

In recent years, Türkiye has deployed troops to the region and collaborated with local allies, such as the Syrian National Army, to prevent the establishment of this corridor and to safeguard local populations from terrorist threats.

By Naila Huseynova