Türkiye to establish military base in eastern Euphrates under new agreement: Report

Türkiye is reportedly set to establish a military base in eastern Syria as part of a broader agreement between the terrorist organization YPG and the Syrian government, according to sources familiar with the negotiations speaking to Türkiye daily.

The agreement aims to fully clear Ankara’s southern border of terrorist elements and integrate all military institutions under the control of the Syrian government.

Türkiye’s border security strategy

Under the terms of the eight-point agreement, the Syrian military will absorb SDF members, and the presence of the YPG—a group Türkiye listed as a terrorist organization as the PKK’s Syrian offshoot—will be eliminated from the region.

New military units within the Syrian army will be assigned to northeastern Syria following the integration process.

As part of this arrangement, Türkiye is expected to establish a military base in the area, ensuring that security concerns along its border are addressed.

During a recent visit to Damascus, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yasar Guler, and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Chief Ibrahim Kalin held discussions on the matter, emphasizing the importance of this transition.

Integration of YPG into Syrian army

A source within Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) stated that while the YPG’s total manpower is estimated to be between 60,000 and 70,000, only around 25,000 operate in an organized military structure.

The remaining forces, described as “irregular fighters,” will be incorporated into the Syrian military and security forces through a selection and training process conducted by Syria’s Ministry of Defense.

“All of these fighters will join the Syrian army with their weapons and will not be concentrated in a single region,” the source explained.

“Those who do not qualify will be removed from service, and a formal army and police force will be established. Non-Syrian YPG members will be deported, and SDF so-called leaders will transition into political roles,” the source added.

Monitoring the disarmament process

The agreement follows the recent call by Abdullah Ocalan, the ringleader of the terrorist organization PKK, for the group to disarm and dissolve itself.

With this development, Turkish intelligence services are set to closely monitor both Syria and Iraq to ensure that the disarmament process is transparent and permanent.

AK Party officials have stressed that the timeline for disarmament will be carefully observed and that Türkiye will only consider further negotiations once concrete progress has been made.

“We will track developments on the ground. We will not allow this process to remain only in words. Right now, our sole focus is on the disbandment of the organization and its disarmament—nothing else,” an official said.

Meanwhile, discussions between the ruling AK Party and the pro-Kurdish People’s Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) are expected to be postponed until after the upcoming Eid holiday, sources indicate.