Türkiye will begin training 49 Syrian cadets at its military academies on Friday as part of a bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing Syria’s defense and security capacities, the Turkish National Defense Ministry announced Thursday.

Ministry spokesperson Zeki Aktürk said at a weekly press briefing that the training includes 10 army, 18 navy, and 21 air force cadets. “Within the framework of close cooperation to strengthen Syria’s defense and security capacities, 49 Syrian cadets will begin their education at Turkish military academies on Friday,” he stated.

Aktürk emphasized that cooperation with Syria continues as the Syrian government “diligently works toward restructuring all institutions and ensuring stability and security across the country.”

The ministry also said that Ankara is closely monitoring developments regarding the possible “integration of the terror organization SDG into the Syrian government.”

Currently, 696 cadets and 241 non-commissioned officer (NCO) students from 29 friendly and allied countries are receiving training at the National Defense University’s Military Academies and Vocational Schools, according to the spokesperson.

Aktürk also noted that the second round of Confidence-Building Measures meetings between Türkiye and Greece for 2025 took place in Izmir on Oct. 23. The two sides reviewed previously agreed measures and discussed implementation plans for 2026.

Highlighting Türkiye’s counterterrorism operations, Aktürk said seven more PKK terrorists surrendered in the past week. “Search and sweep operations to detect and destroy caves, shelters, mines, and improvised explosives along the border and beyond continue,” he added.

He reported that a 6-kilometer tunnel used by the PKK in the Tal Rifat and Manbij areas was destroyed, bringing the total length of neutralized tunnels in Syria to 708 kilometers. The ongoing disarmament and dissolution process of the PKK terror organization is being “closely monitored” by relevant Turkish institutions, he said.

Aktürk said 181 people, including three terrorist organization members, were apprehended while attempting to cross Türkiye’s borders illegally over the past week, while 881 others were prevented from doing so. Since Jan. 1, authorities have detained 8,205 people for illegal border crossings and stopped 55,600 others before they reached the border.

He added that reconnaissance, surveillance, and patrol missions continue without interruption. In recent operations, Turkish border units seized 122.6 kilograms of narcotics on the Van border line and 36 kilograms of smuggled gold on the Hakkari border line.

The spokesperson also addressed the situation in Gaza, saying Israel’s ongoing attacks constitute “a clear violation of the ceasefire.”

“The full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, Israel’s full compliance, and the swift restoration of peace and security in our region are essential,” Aktürk said. He added that Türkiye, as one of the architects of the ceasefire, remains ready to contribute to a just and lasting peace in Gaza and the wider region.

The ministry noted that Ankara continues diplomatic and military consultations with other countries regarding the establishment of a task force in Gaza.

Aktürk outlined Türkiye’s ongoing military training and exercises, including the Türkiye-Uzbekistan Computer-Assisted Command Post Exercise to be held Nov. 2–9 in Uzbekistan, the Dynamic Master Exercise in the UK from Nov. 3–14, and the Yıldırım Mobilization 2025 Exercise in Türkiye’s Çanakkale province.

He also mentioned several scheduled and ongoing naval port visits by allied units, along with Türkiye’s participation in NATO and bilateral maritime activities.

Touching on defense procurement, the ministry confirmed that Türkiye signed a contract with the United Kingdom on Oct. 27, 2025, for the purchase of newly produced Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, equipment, and various munitions worth approximately £5.4 billion.

The project includes 20 Eurofighter Typhoons for Türkiye’s Air Force Command. Ankara is also exploring additional aircraft procurement from Qatar and Oman to further strengthen its air capabilities. (ILKHA)