Reports Confirm Syrian Forces Joined EFES-2026 — First Foreign Exercise Since Assad's Fall

Reporting published May 23, 2026, confirmed that approximately 50 Syrian military personnel participated in Turkey's EFES-2026 exercises near İzmir — the first time post-Assad Syrian forces conducted a military exercise outside Syrian territory. The participation formalizes the deepening Turkish–Syrian military axis following the December 2024 fall of the Assad regime, with Turkey having subsequently provided military advisory and training missions to help reconstruct Syria's armed forces. Analysts from the Israel Alma Institute noted that Turkey is systematically shaping the new Syrian army in its strategic image, selecting and training commanders aligned with Ankara's regional interests. Daily Sabah reported that 50 nations gathered at the exercise, which Turkey used to project its growing strategic reach across the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond. The exercise also featured 502 Libyan personnel from both eastern and western factions training together for the first time — reflecting Turkey's dual Libya engagement strategy.