The Syrian government has formally requested military and technical assistance from Türkiye to bolster its national defense and confront armed terror groups, particularly the ISIS (Daesh) threat, Turkish defense sources confirmed on Wednesday.

In response to the request, Türkiye’s National Defense Ministry announced that it is actively providing training, consultancy, and technical support to Syrian defense forces. Ministry officials emphasized that this cooperation is part of Türkiye’s broader commitment to upholding Syria’s political unity and territorial integrity.

“Türkiye’s primary goal is to support Syria’s political unity and territorial integrity and to lead efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region,” the sources noted.

The announcement comes amid intensifying violence in Syria’s southern Suwayda province and ongoing Israeli airstrikes across the country, particularly targeting infrastructure and military sites in and around Damascus.

Fierce clashes erupted on July 13 between Bedouin Arab tribes and armed Druze groups in Suwayda, escalating into widespread violence. The internal unrest was further exacerbated by Israeli strikes, which Tel Aviv claimed were intended to "protect Druze communities." However, Druze leaders inside Syria have roundly rejected any foreign military involvement, including from Israel, insisting on their loyalty to a unified Syrian state.

A ceasefire was reached last Saturday, though the situation remains fragile.

Responding to questions about Israel’s role in the escalating crisis, Turkish defense officials strongly criticized Tel Aviv’s military interventions, warning that they are intensifying tensions and threatening Syria’s fragile stability.

“Israel’s increasingly intensified strikes have heightened tensions between the Druze community in Suwayda and the Damascus government,” Turkish sources said.

The request for Turkish support marks a notable shift in regional dynamics following the ouster of former Syrian regime leader Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024. Since then, Syria’s new transitional government has been working to restore nationwide order, rebuild state institutions, and reconcile with neighboring states.

Türkiye’s involvement in Syrian stabilization efforts reflects a broader regional trend toward de-escalation and normalization, particularly between Ankara and Damascus. Defense cooperation is expected to continue in the coming months, as both governments pursue joint efforts to secure borders, defeat terror groups, and rebuild war-torn regions.

As Syria moves through a critical post-Assad transition, regional players—including Türkiye—are positioning themselves as partners in reconstruction, counterterrorism, and peacebuilding. (ILKHA)