ISTANBUL, December 26. /TASS/. Turkey will aid the new Syrian authorities in establishment of a regular army and it views the cooperation with the new Syrian authorities as an important opportunity for ensuring peace and stability in the Arab republic and the region in general, sources in the Turkish Foreign Ministry said, commenting on the decision on self-dissolution of the Syrian militias and their accession to the new Defense Ministry forces.
"We support the call for the establishment of a single army and the new Syrian authorities’ work in this direction. We believe that the military cooperation between the Turkish Armed Forces and the new Syrian authorities will meet the interests of the two countries and will become an important opportunity to ensure peace and stability in our region," the sources said, according to TRT Haber.
The defense ministry also noted that the experience of Turkey, which has an "exemplary army" and a powerful defense industry infrastructure, will significantly contribute to strengthening Syria’s security and defense capability. The Turkish Defense Ministry also stated the necessity to ensure the neighboring country’s integrity and unity.
"There is no place for even a single terrorist group in the future of Syria and our region," the ministry sources said.
The Turkiye newspaper previously reported that Turkey will assist Syria in the establishment of a regular army of 300,000 servicemen. According to the report, Turkish advisors and specialists will take part in its creation.
The decision on self-dissolution of Syrian militias and their accession to the new Defense Ministry has been achieved during the meeting between the new Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa with the leaders of militias that took part in fights against the forces under Bashar Assad’s control. On December 22, al-Sharaa announced that militias can exist in Syria only under the defense ministry’s aegis.
On November 27, armed opposition groups launched a large-scale offensive against government forces in Aleppo and Idlib governorates. By the evening of December 7, opponents of Syrian President Bashar Assad had captured several major cities, including Aleppo, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Deraa, and Homs. They entered Damascus on December 8, prompting Syrian army units to withdraw from the city.
On December 10, Mohammed al-Bashir, who since January 2024 led the so-called Salvation Government in Idlib province, announced his appointment as interim prime minister. The transitional period will last until March 1, 2025.