(MENAFN) Türkiye's National Defense Ministry declared on Friday that the Turkish Armed Forces are prepared to take on any role assigned as part of the Gaza Task Force. Responding to inquiries about Turkey’s potential involvement in this international mission, ministry spokesperson Zeki Akturk emphasized that the Turkish military has a history of participating in numerous peacekeeping operations worldwide, organized by various institutions, aimed at ensuring global stability.

Akturk reiterated the Turkish Armed Forces' professionalism and neutral stance, which has garnered respect from all involved parties. "Our Armed Forces, which have extensive experience in establishing and maintaining peace, stand ready to undertake any mission assigned to them," he said.

He also expressed satisfaction regarding the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which came about through Türkiye’s mediation efforts. Akturk underscored the urgent need for humanitarian aid and the beginning of reconstruction efforts in Gaza, which has been suffering from a severe humanitarian crisis for the last two years. “We hope that the ceasefire will contribute to establishing a just and lasting peace and ultimately serve the two-state solution,” he remarked.

The Turkish Defense Ministry’s statement came as Israeli forces started withdrawing troops from the Gaza Strip, a process which they hope to complete within 24 hours, in line with U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan for the region.

On the ongoing situation in Syria, the Turkish Defense Ministry shared its assessment that recent elections in Syria represent a positive step toward the country's unity, security, and regional stability. However, the ministry expressed concern over the ongoing attacks by the YPG/SDG terror group on Syrian government forces in Manbij and rural Aleppo. These actions, according to the ministry, show the group's failure to comply with the March 2025 agreement, further escalating tensions and posing a threat to peace in the region.

The ministry reiterated its firm stance in support of Syria’s "one state, one army" principle and pledged continued vigilance over interactions between the Syrian government and the YPG/SDG.

In response to questions about Türkiye’s efforts to modernize its air defense capabilities, the ministry confirmed that the country is actively working to diversify its fleet. This includes the ongoing procurement process for Eurofighter jets until the country’s domestic fighter jet, the KAAN, enters service. However, the ministry stressed that no final decisions have been made, and the public will be updated once the agreement reaches the approval stage.

The ministry also addressed concerns surrounding Türkiye’s exclusion from the European Defense and Security Architecture (SAFE), highlighting that the regulations, set to take effect in May 2025, will restrict non-EU member states. Despite this, Türkiye reaffirmed its commitment to continue its defense cooperation with European partners, both inside and outside of SAFE, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity for European security.

The Turkish Defense Ministry reported that 294 individuals, including two suspected terrorists, were caught attempting illegal border crossings in the past week, bringing the total number of such incidents since January 1 to 7,471.

Akturk also discussed Türkiye’s ongoing training efforts to ensure combat readiness across all domains, including land, sea, air, space, and cyber. He highlighted several recent joint military exercises, such as the “Türkiye-Algeria Special Forces Training” in Ankara and the “Adaptive Hussar Field Exercise” in Hungary. Other exercises recently completed include “National Anatolian Eagle” in Konya, “NATO Maritime Security” in Istanbul, and “Sarmis Commando Operation” and “Poseidon Mine Operation” in Romania.

Additionally, the Turkish frigate TCG Amasra, which participated in the Poseidon Exercise, will also take part in the seventh activation of the Mine Countermeasures Black Sea (MCM BLACK SEA) Task Group and is scheduled to visit Romania’s Constanța port from October 11–12.

Looking ahead, Türkiye has numerous upcoming training and exercises planned, including the Türkiye-Poland bilateral SAT (Underwater Assault) training, Yildirım Mobilization-5 in Kars, and several multinational operations with Azerbaijan, Georgia, and North Macedonia. Türkiye will also take part in NATO’s “Steadfast Noon” exercise in Denmark from October 11–24 and NATO’s Amphibious Operation in the UK from October 13–16.

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