Sharaa says Turkish bases in Syria will be given legal status with People's Assembly approval; Russian bases down from 170 to 2

As reported by Turkish Minute, Sharaa said on Tuesday (22 September), at an Atlantic Council session moderated by Brett McGurk on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, that the number of Turkish bases in north-western Syria had fallen and that work was under way to formally authorise the remaining Turkish military presence through parliament. According to Sharaa, every foreign military presence must have the approval of the People's Assembly and legal status; he added that Syria would very soon no longer need any foreign military presence. Turkish Minute recalled that Defence Minister Yaşar Güler said in June 2025 that there were more than 20,000 Turkish troops in Syria; current troop and base numbers could not be verified. Breaking Defense dated the event 23 September; there is a one-day discrepancy between the two sources.

According to Breaking Defense, Sharaa said Russia once had about 170 military bases, that only 2 remain today (Hmeimim Air Base and Tartus Naval Base) and that these were converted into joint training centres under an understanding reached in August 2026. Sharaa stated that the SDF had been dissolved and operates under the Syrian state; SDF commander Mazloum Abdi had announced on 25 August that the group would dissolve through integration into the army. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan welcomed the decision during his visit to Damascus on 13 September but said the commitment must be implemented on the ground. Sharaa also said negotiations with Israel had reached about 90% of agreement before the Israeli withdrawal.