Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syria’s Transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa met in Ankara on Tuesday, with discussions focused on a potential joint defense pact. According to four sources familiar with the matter, the proposed deal could involve the establishment of Turkish airbases in central Syria and training for Syria’s new army.
NATO member Türkiye has long supported Syria’s armed and political opposition to ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, who was toppled in late December following a rapid offensive led by Sharaa’s forces.
Türkiye is positioning itself to play a major role in the new Syria, filling a vacuum left by Assad’s main regional backer Iran. This shift in influence could spark rivalry with Gulf Arab states and potentially raise concerns in Israel.
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Syria
The Trump administration will reduce the number of US troops in Syria from around 2,000 to approximately 1,000, officials said Tuesday, in a move signaling a shift in Washington’s military posture across the Middle East.
02:16
The United States is preparing to consolidate its military footprint in Syria, with officials signalling a potential drawdown of up to half its troops in the coming months.
17:00
Azerbaijan-Syria
Azerbaijan and Syria discussed deepening bilateral ties and regional security in a call between their foreign ministers, with a focus on post-Assad cooperation, embassy reopening, reconstruction support, and potential trilateral collaboration with Türkiye.
09:32
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio by phone, discussing the situations in Syria, Gaza, and efforts for a Ukraine ceasefire, according to diplomatic sources.
01:42
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has met UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi amid efforts to strengthen regional ties.
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