Turkey and Syria on 13 August signed their first formal defence accord since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, capping talks in Ankara between Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and his Syrian counterpart. The memorandum of understanding commits the two countries to joint military training and advisory cooperation. Turkish Defence Ministry officials said Ankara will supply Damascus with weapon systems, logistical equipment and technical expertise, and will train Syrian forces in using the hardware if required. The ministry framed the pact as a step toward safeguarding Syria’s territorial integrity and political unity, while warning that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have yet to honour a 10 March integration agreement with the Syrian army. The deal was concluded amid escalating violence inside Syria. Overnight clashes on 13–14 August between government troops and the SDF in Deir ez-Zour and eastern Aleppo left several casualties and saw tribal gunmen briefly detain up to six SDF fighters, according to local reports. The fighting has deepened doubts over the March integration arrangement, which Turkey says the SDF has not begun to implement. Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused Israel and the SDF of attempts to destabilise Syria and urged regional governments to provide “all necessary support” to help Damascus regain stability. Ankara said it stands ready to extend further technical assistance under the new accord.