Istanbul, Turkey
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Turkey is ready to provide military support to Syria's new Islamist-led government set up by rebels who overthrew Bashar al-Assad if it requests it, Defence Minister Yasar Guler said on Sunday.
He said the new leadership should be given "a chance" and that Turkey was "ready to provide the necessary support" if needed, in remarks reported by state news agency Anadolu and other Turkish media outlets.
"It is necessary to see what the new administration will do. We think it is necessary to give them a chance," Guler said of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebel alliance, which is rooted in Al-Qaeda's Syria branch and designated a "terrorist" organisation by many Western governments.
HTS has sought to moderate its rhetoric and its transitional government has insisted the rights of all Syrians would be protected along with the rule of law.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-israel-strikes-syria-overnight-as-rebel-leader-warns-of-unwarranted-escalation-784154">Israel strikes Syria overnight; rebel leader warns of 'unwarranted escalation'</a>
"We have military training and cooperation agreements with many countries. We are ready to provide the necessary support if the new administration requests it," the Turkish defence minister said, without specifying what might be provided.
The new administration, Guler said, had pledged to "respect all government institutions, the UN and other international organisations" and promised to report any evidence of chemical weapons to the OPCW watchdog.
<h2>Kurdish question</h2>
Turkey's top priority in Syria was to rid the country of Kurdish separatist fighters -- a goal which was supported by the new government, Guler said.
"In this new period, the PKK/YPG terrorist organisation will be eliminated in Syria, sooner or later. Both we and the new administration in Syria want this," he said.
"We have no problems with our Kurdish brothers living in Iraq and Syria. Our problem is only and exclusively with terrorists."
The YPG (Syrian Kurdish People's Defence Units) makes up the bulk of the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces), a key US ally that defeated the Islamic State group's self-declared caliphate in Syria in 2019.
Ankara views the YPG as an extension of its domestic foe, the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), which has led a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state.
By extension, it sees the SDF as a terror outfit, setting it sharply at odds with Washington, which has called the group "crucial" for preventing a resurgence of IS group jihadists in Syria.
"Our priority (in Syria) is the liquidation of the PKK/YPG terrorist organisation," Guler said.
"We have expressed this to our American friends. We expect them to re-evaluate their positions."
His remarks echoed comments on Friday by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who said Turkey would give the new Syrian government time to tackle the problem.
"The elimination of the YPG is our strategic goal. We will wait for our brothers in Syria to eliminate the threat in their own land," he told the private NTV channel, saying the Kurdish group's leadership "must leave the country".
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

"It is necessary to see what the new administration will do. We think it is necessary to give them a chance," Guler said of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebel alliance, which is rooted in Al-Qaeda's Syria branch and designated a "terrorist" organisation by many Western governments.



Istanbul, Turkey Turkey is ready to provide military support to Syria's new Islamist-led government set up by rebels who overthrew Bashar al-Assad if it requests it, Defence Minister Yasar Guler said on Sunday. He said the new leadership should be given "a chance" and that Turkey was "ready to provide the necessary support" if needed, in remarks reported by state news agency Anadolu and other Turkish media outlets. "It is necessary to see what the new administration will do. We think it is necessary to give them a chance," Guler said of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebel alliance, which is rooted in Al-Qaeda's Syria branch and designated a "terrorist" organisation by many Western governments. HTS has sought to moderate its rhetoric and its transitional government has insisted the rights of all Syrians would be protected along with the rule of law. Also read: Israel strikes Syria overnight; rebel leader warns of 'unwarranted escalation' "We have military training and cooperation agreements with many countries. We are ready to provide the necessary support if the new administration requests it," the Turkish defence minister said, without specifying what might be provided. The new administration, Guler said, had pledged to "respect all government institutions, the UN and other international organisations" and promised to report any evidence of chemical weapons to the OPCW watchdog. Kurdish question Turkey's top priority in Syria was to rid the country of Kurdish separatist fighters -- a goal which was supported by the new government, Guler said. "In this new period, the PKK/YPG terrorist organisation will be eliminated in Syria, sooner or later. Both we and the new administration in Syria want this," he said. "We have no problems with our Kurdish brothers living in Iraq and Syria. Our problem is only and exclusively with terrorists." The YPG (Syrian Kurdish People's Defence Units) makes up the bulk of the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces), a key US ally that defeated the Islamic State group's self-declared caliphate in Syria in 2019. Ankara views the YPG as an extension of its domestic foe, the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), which has led a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state. By extension, it sees the SDF as a terror outfit, setting it sharply at odds with Washington, which has called the group "crucial" for preventing a resurgence of IS group jihadists in Syria. "Our priority (in Syria) is the liquidation of the PKK/YPG terrorist organisation," Guler said. "We have expressed this to our American friends. We expect them to re-evaluate their positions." His remarks echoed comments on Friday by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who said Turkey would give the new Syrian government time to tackle the problem. "The elimination of the YPG is our strategic goal. We will wait for our brothers in Syria to eliminate the threat in their own land," he told the private NTV channel, saying the Kurdish group's leadership "must leave the country". Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Turkey offers military support to Syria’s rebel government in fight against Kurdish separatists

Turkey is ready to provide military support to Syria's new Islamist-led government set up by rebels who overthrew Bashar al-Assad if it requests it, Defence Minister Yasar Guler said on Sunday.

Turkey is ready to provide military support to Syria's new Islamist-led government set up by rebels who overthrew Bashar al-Assad if it requests it, Defence Minister Yasar Guler said on Sunday. He said the new leadership should be given "a chance" and that Turkey was "ready to provide the necessary support" if needed, in remarks reported by state news agency Anadolu and other Turkish media outlets. "It is necessary to see what the new administration will do. We think it is necessary to give them a chance," Guler said of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebel alliance, which is rooted in Al-Qaeda's Syria branch and designated a "terrorist" organisation by many Western governments. HTS has sought to moderate its rhetoric and its transitional government has insisted the rights of all Syrians would be protected along with the rule of law. Also read: Israel strikes Syria overnight; rebel leader warns of 'unwarranted escalation' "We have military training and cooperation agreements with many countries. We are ready to provide the necessary support if the new administration requests it," the Turkish defence minister said, without specifying what might be provided. The new administration, Guler said, had pledged to "respect all government institutions, the UN and other international organisations" and promised to report any evidence of chemical weapons to the OPCW watchdog. Kurdish question Turkey's top priority in Syria was to rid the country of Kurdish separatist fighters -- a goal which was supported by the new government, Guler said. "In this new period, the PKK/YPG terrorist organisation will be eliminated in Syria, sooner or later. Both we and the new administration in Syria want this," he said. "We have no problems with our Kurdish brothers living in Iraq and Syria. Our problem is only and exclusively with terrorists." The YPG (Syrian Kurdish People's Defence Units) makes up the bulk of the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces), a key US ally that defeated the Islamic State group's self-declared caliphate in Syria in 2019. Ankara views the YPG as an extension of its domestic foe, the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), which has led a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state. By extension, it sees the SDF as a terror outfit, setting it sharply at odds with Washington, which has called the group "crucial" for preventing a resurgence of IS group jihadists in Syria. "Our priority (in Syria) is the liquidation of the PKK/YPG terrorist organisation," Guler said. "We have expressed this to our American friends. We expect them to re-evaluate their positions." His remarks echoed comments on Friday by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who said Turkey would give the new Syrian government time to tackle the problem. "The elimination of the YPG is our strategic goal. We will wait for our brothers in Syria to eliminate the threat in their own land," he told the private NTV channel, saying the Kurdish group's leadership "must leave the country". Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The defence ministers of Russia, Turkiye and Syria met in Moscow on Wednesday, the first such talks since a war broke out in Syria. It was also the first meeting between Turkish and Syrian defence ministers since the start of the war in 2011.

Turkiye, Syria, Russia defense ministers meet for first talks since 2011

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said the United States is getting closer to Turkey's views on a proposed safe zone in northeast Syria, and that its military deployment plans are complete, state-owned Anadolu Agency reported on Wednesday.

Speaking in Ankara, Akar also said that Turkey has told the United States it would prefer to act together.

"Our plans, preparations, the deployment of our units in the field are all complete. But we said we wanted to act together with our friend and ally, the United States," Akar was quoted by Anadolu as saying.

Turkey has been growing impatient with the United States, which had agreed to create a safe zone inside Syria's northeastern border with Turkey, set to be cleared of the Kurdish YPG militia.

Ankara has accused Washington of stalling progress on setting up the safe zone and has demanded it sever its relations with the YPG. The group was Washington's main ally on the ground in Syria during the battle against Islamic State, but Turkey designates it as a terrorist organization.

On Wednesday, the third days of Turkish-US talks on the safe zone, Akar described them as "positive and rather constructive", and that he expected them to finish within hours.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said the United States is getting closer to Turkey's views on a proposed safe zone in northeast Syria, and that its military deployment plans are complete, state-owned Anadolu Agency reported on Wednesday.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said the United States is getting closer to Turkey's views on a proposed safe zone in northeast Syria, and that its military deployment plans are complete, state-owned Anadolu Agency reported on Wednesday. Speaking in Ankara, Akar also said that Turkey has told the United States it would prefer to act together. "Our plans, preparations, the deployment of our units in the field are all complete. But we said we wanted to act together with our friend and ally, the United States," Akar was quoted by Anadolu as saying. Turkey has been growing impatient with the United States, which had agreed to create a safe zone inside Syria's northeastern border with Turkey, set to be cleared of the Kurdish YPG militia. Ankara has accused Washington of stalling progress on setting up the safe zone and has demanded it sever its relations with the YPG. The group was Washington's main ally on the ground in Syria during the battle against Islamic State, but Turkey designates it as a terrorist organization. On Wednesday, the third days of Turkish-US talks on the safe zone, Akar described them as "positive and rather constructive", and that he expected them to finish within hours.

Turkish-US talks 'positive and rather constructive':Turkey's Defence Minister