Turkish, US Defense Chiefs Discuss Syria Developments in Phone Call
Ankara, The Gulf Observer: Turkish National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held a phone conversation on Tuesday to discuss recent developments in Syria, Turkish officials said.
According to a statement from Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defense, the two officials exchanged views on bilateral relations as well as regional defense and security issues, with a particular focus on the evolving situation in Syria.
The call came amid fresh remarks by U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, who said on Tuesday that the role of the YPG/SDF terror group as the “primary anti-ISIS (Daesh) force on the ground” has “largely expired,” noting that Syria is increasingly prepared to assume responsibility for its own security.
Later in the day, the Syrian Defense Ministry announced the implementation of a four-day ceasefire with the SDF, signaling a potential pause in hostilities as developments on the ground continue to evolve.
The discussions between Ankara and Washington underscored ongoing coordination between the two NATO allies on regional security matters, particularly those related to Syria’s future stability and counterterrorism efforts.
