Turkey increased military assistance to Syria

Reports circulating on Syrian social media claim Syrian interim president Ahmad Al Sharaa provides a visit to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to finalize a defense and a military agreement between the two countries. These reports are not confirmed but not unprecedented. Before the February meeting Sharaa and Erdogans, Reuters reported that the two leaders discussed a defense pact.

Before Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), a terrorist group designated by the United States, ousted the Syrian dictator Bashar Al Assad in December 2024, the relationship of organizations with Turkey was defined by a combination of pragmatic cooperation and deep distrust. Initially, Turkey designatedHTS as a terrorist organization because of its extremist ideology and its links with Al-Qaeda. However, the strategic recalibrations of HTSS, in particular its actions against Islamic State bastions in northwestern Syria, paved the way for cooperation with Ankara. HTS allowed the Turkish patrols offunctionIn the territories, he controlled and theestablishmentTurkish observation posts in northern Syria.

HTS even positioned itself as aporterFor Ankara, braking drug trafficking in Türkiye, prevention of the infiltration of the Islamic State and apprehending the individuals sought by the Turkish authorities. The head of the HTS, Ahmad al Sharaa, known for a long time by his war name Abu Mohammad Al Jolani, allegedlysupportedTurkish military operations east of Euphrates, according to a report by Syria TV based in Turkey.

The number of Turkish troops present in Syria has fluctuated since December, but the influence of turkeys continues to grow. Turkish and Syrians officials discuss Ankara to create and use military bases in Syria and train Syrian soldiers, reinforce themselves more. This presence is reinforced by the presence of foreign advisers, military officers anchored in the new Syrian army, pro-Turkey proxys integrated in its ranks and figures supported by the Turks guaranteeing the main positions within the Syrian army.

Reports on the role of turkeys in the shaping of the new military structure in Syria

A source in the Turkish Defense Ministry declared That Turkey continues to study the creation of a military base in Syria for training, aimed at improving the capacities of the Syrian army. Previous reports have indicated that Turkish officials have evaluated the potential sites for these bases.

Israeli media reports claim That Prime Minister Netanyahu has kept safe consultations to respond to concerns concerning the growing influence in Syria, depicting a confrontation with Ankara as inevitable.

According to the Israeli information site Wallasecurity sources revealed That Syria and Turkey speak of putting down areas near Palmyraper a fortress for the militias supported by Iran in Syria. Syrians would receive economic and military support in exchange.

One of the planned bases reported will be an air base in the center of Syria, accommodation Turkish hunting jets F-16. The Turkish army is already stationed in various parts of northern Syria, and in apparent agreements with Syrian transition leaders, certain Turkish forces will move in other regions within the country.

Meanwhile, Ankara is always assessment The creation of a training base to strengthen the Syrian army, according to the request of the Syrian government. In addition, a five -party meeting in Jordan led to an agreement to support Syria in its fight against terrorism. There is also a consensus among the nations involved to establish a joint operations center at the request of Syria.

Turkish media reported that a military delegation will be sent to Syria to discuss the formation of the Syrian army, with the possibility that a Turkish officer is appointed military advisor. This evolution coincides with the appointment of Turkish nationals and pro-Tu-Turques individuals to key positions within the newly structured army.

An eminent example is Omar Jaftashi (Mukhtar al Turki), a Turkish national and former member of Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, who now orders The Damascus division. Jaftashi played an essential role in the coordination between the intelligence agency HTS and Türkiye, put, and is reported Having maintained close links with Turkish intelligence.

In addition, militias supported by the Turks of the Syrian national army have been integrated into the unified Syrian army. Although this integration has been precipitated, many of these factions are still faithful to their local commanders and the influence of Ankaras on commanders and Turkeys on the military structure of the Syrias.

For example, Mohammad Al Jasem (Abu Amsha), head of the Sultan Suleiman Shah brigade, was appointed commander of the Hama division (62nd division). Jasem is sanctioned by the United States for human rights violation against the Kurdish populations and was accused of having committed violations against the Alawite community during the events of March 2025 near the Syrian coast.

Another Turkish proxy, Sayf Abu Bakr, was an former lieutenant of the Assads Air Force Intelligence before defeating the Hamzat division supported by the turquies. The reports suggest that it may also have been affiliated with the Islamic State, appearing in a propaganda video for the group. Bakr was appointed commander of the 76th Division of the Syrian army and, like Jasem, is sanctioned by the United States for human rights violation against the Kurds.

Ahmad Sharawi is research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian intervention in Arab affairs and the Levant.

Tags: HTS, Türkiye