Turkish FM says no foreign military bases in Syria

Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, has made it clear that his country does not support the presence of foreign military bases in Syria, whether of Russian or of any other country.

Fidan emphasized that the decision on foreign military presence in Syria should ultimately be made by the Syrian people, and any agreements or solutions reached would need to be respected by all parties, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Fidan highlighted the ongoing process of Russian military units relocating from bases in Syria's interior to the coast. At the same time, he pointed out that the United States has been increasing its military presence in the region.

"We just learned that the United States has more than 2,000 troops in Syria, more than double the number previously thought. People assumed there were 900 American soldiers, but the Pentagon recently revealed the actual number," Fidan said.

He noted that the U.S. claims this presence is aimed at combating ISIS.

To note, as of December 2024, the presence of foreign military bases in Syria has undergone significant changes following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime. The new transitional government, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has prompted foreign powers to reassess their military engagements in the country.

By Khagan Isayev