Syria requests support from Turkey following sectarian violence

Syria’s interim government has formally requested military support from Turkey to boost its defence capabilities, Turkish officials said on July 23rd, according to the Middle East Eye.

Turkish defence sources, speaking anonymously, confirmed that Syria is asking for help in fighting “terrorist organisations”, including the Islamic State group.

“As long as our brotherly country, Syria, requests it, Turkey will continue to stand firmly by its side,” said Omer Celik, spokesperson for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s governing party.

“The heroic Turkish armed forces will fulfil this, both to assist our Syrian brothers and to prevent instability there, which is vital for Turkey’s national security,” he added.

Turkey is already involved in training and advising Syrian forces and told Reuters in June that it has no intention of pulling its troops out from Syria. A longtime backer of the opposition to Bashar al-Assad, Turkey now supports the interim Syrian government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, formed after Assad’s fall from power in December.

The request comes after deadly clashes between Druze and Bedouin militias in southern Syria’s Sweida region, which left over 1,000 dead and triggered further Israeli military action inside Syria.

Turkey has strongly opposed recent Israeli military actions in Syria, including strikes near a key air base in Hama, where Israel has accused Turkey of pursuing military interests.

“The bigger strategic problem in the region is Israel’s attempt to invade the region,” Turkish President Erdogan said on July 20th.

“Israel strives to set the entire region on fire, but Syria’s stance cautiously reined in this process,” he also said.

Turkey has condemned Israel’s military actions in Damascus, accusing it of trying to undermine Syria’s pursuit of peace and stability. 

Despite its support for Syria’s interim government, Turkey has so far refrained from offering full-scale defense assistance. In April, Turkish and Israeli officials held talks on forming a deconfliction line to prevent direct clashes between their forces.

A US-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Syria was announced on July 19th by Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria.

Barrack said to the Associated Press earlier this week that the US has “no position” on a possible defense agreement for Syria and Turkey.

Syrian officials have not yet commented.

Middle East Eye, Maghrebi.org, Associated Press, Reuters