Turkey’s Military Buildup in Syria Worries Israel
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks to establish a permanent military presence in Syria, where pro-Turkish Islamists have installed a new government after toppling former leader Bashar al-Assad.
Turkey’s Military Buildup in Syria Worries Israel
Soeren Kern | Israel My Glory | July 1, 2025
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks to establish a permanent military presence in Syria, where pro-Turkish Islamists have installed a new government after toppling former leader Bashar al-Assad. Israel, which views Turkey as a potentially greater threat than Iran, has carried out air strikes in Syria to prevent an expanded Turkish military presence from developing there. The rising tensions between Turkey and Israel are increasing the potential for armed conflict between the two rivals.
Following the overthrow of al-Assad in December 2024, Ankara has been negotiating a defense pact with Damascus that would allow Turkey to fill the regional power vacuum left by Russia and Iran, which were ejected from Syria when Ahmed al-Sharaa was installed as Syria’s new president in January. Turkey aims to gain control over Syrian military sites, including the Hama Air Base and the Tiyas Air Base (also known as T4). A Turkish presence at T4, Syria’s largest airbase, would give Ankara air dominance over a large part of the country.
