Türkiye Details Syria Tunnel Operations, Flags PKK Links to Syrian Democratic Forces

At the weekly defense briefing held on December 31, 2025, Türkiye placed particular emphasis on its operations in Syria, alongside counterterrorism and border security efforts carried out throughout the year.

Providing detailed information on Syria, Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk said Turkish Armed Forces continued uninterrupted operations targeting terrorist infrastructure linked to PKK-affiliated elements across operational zones. “Within the scope of ongoing operations and search-and-clear activities, four kilometers of tunnels were destroyed in Manbij during the past week,” Aktürk stated.

He added that tunnel destruction efforts in Syria had reached a significant scale over the course of the year. “The total length of tunnels destroyed in Syria has reached 741 kilometers in 2025,” Aktürk said, underlining Ankara’s focus on dismantling what it describes as PKK-linked networks operating under the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) label.

The briefing reiterated Türkiye’s position that the SDF structure constitutes a direct security concern due to its organizational and operational ties with the PKK, particularly in areas close to Türkiye’s southern border. Officials stressed that operations in northern Syria aim to prevent the entrenchment of armed groups and cross-border infiltration.

On counterterrorism, the Ministry confirmed that three PKK militants surrendered in the past week, bringing the total number of militants who surrendered during 2025 to 111. Aktürk emphasized that operations would continue “with determination” both inside and outside Türkiye’s borders in 2026.

Border security and smuggling also featured prominently. Over the past week, 136 individuals were detained while attempting to cross Türkiye’s borders illegally, while 1,186 others were prevented. Throughout 2025, border units detained 9,942 people and blocked 66,794 illegal crossings.

The spokesperson further reported that 101 kilograms of narcotics were seized in border operations during the past week, particularly along the Hakkâri and Van border lines, bringing the total amount of narcotics seized in 2025 to 1,982 kilograms.

Other topics, including international missions and defense procurement, were addressed briefly. Officials reiterated that operations in Syria, counterterrorism, and border security would remain among Türkiye’s core security priorities heading into 2026.