The interim government of the Syrian Arab Republic has asked Turkey for help in bolstering its defense capabilities, Turkish officials said.
This comes amid sectarian violence in Syria over the past two weeks, which has increased tensions and prompted Israeli intervention.
Defense officials noted that Syria had also requested support in the fight against “terrorist groups,” including the so-called Islamic State.
Türkiye, which has long expressed its willingness to help Syria, is working to provide training, advice and technical assistance to improve Syria's defense capabilities, officials said.
New conflicts have emerged in southern Syria in the past week, with intense clashes between Bedouin Arab tribes and Druze militias in the province of As-Suwayda.
The conflict was triggered by Israeli airstrikes on government troop convoys in As-Suwayda and on the Defense Ministry headquarters in central Damascus, which Israel justified by citing the need to protect friendly communities.
Türkiye, a strong supporter of the interim Syrian government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, is seeking a defense deal with Syria that could reportedly include the establishment of Turkish military bases on Syrian territory.
Ankara also supports the agreement reached between the interim Syrian administration and the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on integration into the Syrian National Army.
The process of implementing this agreement has been fraught with difficulties, with the main stumbling block being the question of whether the SDF would remain a single unit of the new army or be completely disbanded.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
