Syria Seeks Turkish Military Support Amid Sectarian Violence and Regional Tensions

Tone & Political Bias:Moderately Right-Leaning

Why: Heavy emphasis on Turkey’s strategic and national security interests; sympathetic framing of Turkish military support and Kurdish integration while avoiding critique of Turkish or Israeli actions.

Syria Requests Defense Assistance from Turkey

Syria’s interim government has formally requested defense support from Turkey following a surge in sectarian violence in the country’s south. Turkish defense officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the request on Wednesday, describing it as focused on training, technical assistance, and advisory services.

The violence, primarily between Bedouin Arab tribes and Druze militias in Sweida province, triggered Israeli airstrikes in Syria and highlighted the growing instability across the region. Turkish government spokesperson Omer Celik reaffirmed Ankara’s willingness to assist Syria. “As long as our brotherly country, Syria, requests it, Turkey will continue to stand firmly by its side,” he said.

Clashes in Sweida Prompt Regional Responses

The latest round of clashes in Sweida erupted between Bedouin and Druze groups, escalating to a point that drew military responses from Israel. Israeli airstrikes hit Syrian government convoys in Sweida and the Ministry of Defense building in Damascus. Israel claimed these actions were taken to protect Druze communities within Syria.

The U.S. envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, announced a ceasefire agreement on July 19, brokered by the United States. The deal allowed Syrian forces to enter Sweida and de-escalate the fighting. However, after initial success, government troops later withdrew, and violence resumed between local factions.

Turkey’s Expanding Role in Syria

Turkey has positioned itself as a central actor in Syria’s ongoing conflict. The country supports Syria’s interim government, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, and is pursuing a defense pact with Damascus. Reports suggest the agreement could involve establishing Turkish military bases on Syrian soil, a move that has drawn attention from both the U.S. and Israel.

Though U.S. envoy Barrack stated that the U.S. has “no position” on the proposed Turkey-Syria pact, Israel has expressed concern. Earlier this year, Israeli strikes targeted five Syrian cities, including areas near Hama—where Turkey is believed to have strategic interests.

Kurdish Forces and Integration into Syrian Army

Ankara also supports an agreement between Syria’s interim government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to merge into a unified national army. This integration remains stalled. The main unresolved issue is whether the SDF will retain its organizational identity within the new army or be disbanded.

While Turkey officially supports the integration effort, it continues to label the SDF a terrorist entity due to its ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The PKK has fought a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned Kurdish and other factions against leveraging the current unrest to pursue autonomy. He stressed that any attempt to divide Syria would be treated as a national security threat to Turkey.

Regional Fallout: Turkey-Israel Tensions Rise

The ongoing instability in Syria is contributing to rising tensions between Turkey and Israel. Israeli officials have accused Turkey of seeking to create a military “protectorate” within Syrian territory, especially near strategic areas such as the Hama air base.

The accusation followed Israeli strikes in April on multiple Syrian locations, actions which Israel justified on security grounds. Turkish officials have not responded publicly to these claims.

Turkey’s Conditions and Strategic Focus

While Ankara has agreed to provide defense support, Turkish defense officials made clear that their involvement is conditional. They expect full compliance from the SDF with the terms of the integration deal and indicated they would monitor developments closely.

Turkey frames its engagement in Syria not only as a humanitarian or alliance-driven action but also as essential to its own national security interests. Turkish leadership continues to express strong opposition to any movements within Syria that suggest federalism or separatist governance.