ANKARA

A total of 49 Syrian cadets will begin training at Türkiye’s military academies on Friday as part of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on joint training and consultancy signed to enhance Syria’s defense and security capacity, the National Defense Ministry said Thursday.

Within the framework of close cooperation to strengthen Syria’s defense and security capacities, 49 Syrian cadets (10 army, 18 navy, and 21 air force) will begin training at Turkish military academies on Friday, ministry spokesperson Zeki Akturk said at a weekly press briefing.

Touching on cooperation with Syria, the spokesperson noted that the Syrian government “continues its diligent efforts toward restructuring all institutions and ensuring stability and security in the country.”

The ministry, in a separate statement, also stressed that issues concerning the “integration of the terror organization SDG into the Syrian government” are being closely and carefully monitored by Turkish authorities.

Akturk underlined that the Turkish Armed Forces continue to make significant contributions to regional and global security and stability.

At National Defense University’s Military Academies and Non-Commissioned Officer Vocational Schools, 696 cadets and 241 NCO students from 29 friendly and allied countries are currently receiving training, he added.

Akturk also said the second round of Confidence-Building Measures meetings between Türkiye and Greece for 2025 took place in Izmir on Oct. 23, during which previously agreed-upon measures were reviewed and the 2026 implementation plan was discussed.

Fight against terrorism

“In the past week, seven more PKK terrorists surrendered. Search and sweep operations to detect and destroy caves, shelters, mines, and improvised explosives along the border and beyond continue,” Akturk said.

“With the destruction of a 6-kilometer (3.72-mile) tunnel in Tal Rifat and Manbij, the total length of tunnels neutralized in the Syrian operation zones has reached 708 kilometers,” he added.

The disarmament and dissolution process of the PKK terror organization is being “managed and closely monitored” by the relevant state institutions, the ministry statement said.

Border security

In the past week, Akturk said 181 people, including three members of a terrorist organization, were apprehended while attempting to cross Türkiye's borders illegally, while 881 were prevented from crossing.

Since Jan. 1, some 8,205 people have been detained for illegal border crossings, with another 55,600 stopped before reaching the border.

The spokesperson said reconnaissance, surveillance, and patrol activities continue without interruption, adding that 122.6 kilograms of narcotics were seized on the Van border line and 36 kilograms of smuggled gold on the Hakkari border line.

Israel’s attacks on Gaza clear violation of ceasefire

Akturk said Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip constitute a clear violation of the ceasefire.

“The full implementation of the ceasefire agreement aimed at establishing peace in Gaza, Israel's full compliance with the agreement, and the swift restoration of peace and security in our region are essential,” he said.

He added that, as one of the architects of the ceasefire agreement, Ankara is ready to contribute to the establishment of a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the region, as well as peace in Gaza, as it has done previously.

The ministry also underlined that contacts with relevant counterparts regarding the establishment of a task force in Gaza continue. “Türkiye continues diplomatic and military consultations with other countries.”

Training, exercises, and defense industry

Akturk said the Turkish Armed Forces continue to conduct training and exercises, noting that the Türkiye-Uzbekistan Computer-Assisted Command Post Exercise will be held Nov. 2-9 in Uzbekistan, the Dynamic Master Exercise will take place Nov. 3-14 in the UK, and the Yildirim Mobilization 2025 Exercise will be conducted in Türkiye’s Canakkale province.

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

Türkiye-UK Eurofighter deal

"To meet the operational needs of our Air Force Command, a contract was signed with the United Kingdom on October 27, 2025, for the procurement of newly manufactured Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, equipment, and various ammunition,” the ministry statement said.

The total project cost for 20 newly produced Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, along with related mission equipment and various types and quantities of munitions, amounts to approximately £5.4 billion, the statement added.

It said work is currently underway to procure Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft from Qatar and Oman to support the country's Air Force Command's operational requirements.