Turkey has withdrawn civilian administrative units from the Operation Olive Branch zone in northern Syria after seven years of activity, according to a statement by Şanlıurfa Governor Hasan Şıldak. The announcement prompted questions regarding the withdrawal of Turkish armed forces from the area.
While announcing the completion of the “national advisory” mission by the governorate, Şıldak noted the length of the time it took. “The national advisory duty we have carried out in the Operation Olive Branch region since 2019 has been completed after a seven-year period.”
He then announced the withdrawal: “Under the instructions of our presidency and the Interior Ministry, we withdrew from the region. As of last Friday (Feb.27), all of our units there have been withdrawn. Only humanitarian aid and some health services will continue partially.”
The area has been administered with support from Turkish provincial authorities since Turkish forces launched a military operation into northern Syria in 2019, securing a corridor between Tel Abyad and Ras al-Ayn approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) long and 30 kilometers (18 miles) deep along the Syrian border. Since then, Turkish-backed administrative structures have coordinated public services such as education, security, health care and infrastructure in the region.
However, it is unclear whether Turkish military forces stationed in the area would also withdraw following these steps. Columnist Ertuğrul Özkök described the announcement as a significant development that received little attention amid other regional tensions.
“This is a very important announcement that was lost in the noise,” Özkök wrote, questioning whether the move indicates that Turkey is ending its broader presence in northern Syria or only withdrawing civilian administrative structures.
“Does this mean that the Turkish state is ending its presence in Syria?” he asked, adding that it remains unclear whether Turkish troops have also withdrawn or whether Turkish flags in the region have been lowered.
Turkey has repeatedly said its cross-border deployments are temporary and linked to security concerns along its southern border. In June 2025, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler said Turkish forces would withdraw from Syria once three conditions are met: the elimination of terrorist threats near the border, the return of Syrian refugees from Turkey and the restoration of Syria’s territorial integrity and state authority.
