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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Qatari plan
The United States has quietly approved a Qatari initiative to finance salaries for Syrian public-sector workers, marking a significant shift in Western engagement with post-Assad Syria, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
12:47
French President Emmanuel Macron will host Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Paris on Wednesday, marking the new Syrian leader’s first official visit to Europe since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad late last year.
21:58
Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a wide-ranging call covering Ukraine, Gaza, and Syria, with mutual pledges of cooperation and invitations exchanged.
08:05
Azerbaijan has reaffirmed its support for Syria’s recovery efforts through a high-level visit to Damascus, where officials explored new opportunities for cooperation and conveyed a message from President Ilham Aliyev to Syria’s interim leadership.
18:20
The Syrian Ministry of Defense on Thursday accused Hezbollah militias of firing artillery shells from Lebanese territory toward Syrian army positions in the al-Qusayr area west of Homs.
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