President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stressed the need for a complete purge of terrorism from Syrian soil during a Sunday phone call with Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, calling it essential for Syria and the broader region while vowing continued support.
Erdoğan assured al-Sharaa that Türkiye's backing for Syria, especially in combating terrorism, would ramp up, according to a statement from Communications Director Burhanettin Duran on the Turkish platform NSosyal.
The leaders delved into bilateral ties and Syria's evolving situation, with Erdoğan highlighting Türkiye's commitment to Syria's territorial integrity, unity, stability, and security.
The phone call follows a ceasefire and full integration agreement announced by Sharaa between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), after weeks of heightened military tensions in northern and eastern Syria.
Under the deal, the SDF will withdraw its military formations east of the Euphrates River and hand over administrative and security control of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor provinces to the Syrian state.
The agreement also provides for the integration of SDF military and security personnel into the Syrian ministries of defense and interior following individual security vetting, as well as the transfer of border crossings, oil and gas fields, and civilian institutions to government control.
The deal follows a military operation launched by the Syrian Army that resulted in the recapture of large areas in eastern and northeastern Syria after repeated violations by the SDF of agreements signed with the government about a year ago and its failure to implement their provisions.
Separately, Türkiye voiced optimism that the ceasefire and full integration agreement in Syria would speed up stability efforts grounded in the nation's wholeness and cohesion.
The Foreign Ministry, in its statement, anticipated the pact would benefit the Syrian people and foster regional peace, particularly for neighboring states.
It described the phase starting Dec. 8, 2024, as a rare chance for Syria's brighter future, now at a pivotal juncture.
The ministry urged acknowledging on-the-ground facts and hoped all Syrian factions grasp that progress stems from unity and integration, not terrorism or splits.
Türkiye pledged ongoing aid to the Syrian government's inclusive, people-backed anti-terrorism drives and reconstruction initiatives.
Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, in a post, labeled the deal a promising stride, adding that Ankara would watch its execution closely.
He expressed wishes for parties to honor commitments, stabilizing the process and dismantling externally backed structures from the power vacuum era.
Yılmaz noted the agreement could redirect trade, oil, and resources toward Syria's growth instead of chaos. Türkiye will sustain support for inclusive moves to bolster Syria's central governance, he said, underlining Turkish-Kurdish-Arab unity as the best counter to disruptive forces.
The SDF is led by the YPG, considered the Syrian arm of the PKK terrorist group.
