LONDON: The Syrian Arab Army took part in the Efes 2026 land, naval and air forces drills in Turkiye alongside 50 countries from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Efes 2026 has been taking place since April 20 in the western Izmir province on the Aegean Sea and will conclude tomorrow. It featured advanced military technologies, including unmanned combat systems, drone operations and layered air defense systems.
On Wednesday, Syrian military officials took part in an observer day, joining defense ministers and military chiefs to witness live-fire maneuvers. Military units also conducted field maneuvers, amphibious operations and live-fire drills, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.
Syria’s participation aims to enhance professional training and operational capabilities by exposing soldiers to a multi-domain combat environment designed to simulate conditions of modern warfare, SANA added.
The Syrian army’s participation in the military drills alongside NATO members is the first time since the fall of the Bashar Assad regime in December 2024.
About 10,388 Turkish army personnel took part in the biennial drills alongside 1,305 from other countries, including the US, Germany, France, the UK, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan, Sweden, Somalia, Libya and Rwanda.
Turkiye deployed its military capabilities during the drills, including the TCG Anadolu, the navy’s flagship, and the unmanned Bayraktar TB3 combat aerial vehicle.
