By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
JERUSALEM/DAMASCUS (Worthy News) -Turkey’s military rushed to take over Syria’s Tiyas air base, also known as T4, to deter Israeli strikes in Syria, well-informed Arabic sources confirmed Tuesday.
The move by Turkish forces was also intended to step up attacks against the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, well-informed sources announced.
Ankara and Damascus have been negotiating a defense pact since December following the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
“The agreement would see Turkey provide air cover and military protection for Syria’s new government, which currently lacks a functioning military,” reported the well-informed Middle East Eye (MEE) online news service.
Turkey eventually aims to establish “a layered air defense system in and around the base, which would have short-, medium- and long-range air defense capabilities against a variety of threats, from jets to drones to missiles,” MEE added.
However, Israel reportedly views Turkey’s military presence in Syria as a potential threat amid ongoing tensions between Jerusalem and Ankara.
‘ZIONIST ISRAEL’
On Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly called for the destruction of “Zionist Israel,” seen as code words for Jews and their nation.
“We see what is happening in Palestine. May Allah destroy Zionist Israel in his holy name,” Erdogan was heard saying in comments monitored by Worthy News.
He spoke after visiting a mosque to mark the holiday of Eid al-Fitr, the end of what Muslims view as the “holy month” of Ramadan.
“We must see what is happening there [in Israel], and therefore, we must unite, be strong, and be brothers here. May Allah always strengthen our unity,” Erdogan added.
Yet Ankara claims it aims “to stabilize” Syria, which borders Israel, by leveraging its military capabilities. Turkish officials say that Turkey seeks to fill “the power vacuum” in Syria left by the withdrawal of Russia and Iran.
It was not immediately clear whether the move could complicate possible airstrikes by Israel and the United States of Iran over its nuclear program.
Both allies have expressed concern that Tehran has enriched uranium to nearly weapons-grade level. That could bring the Islamic Republic closer to obtaining nuclear weapons, according to the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
Scores of people have been killed after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s Flores Island early Saturday, authorities said, as rescuers struggled to reach some of the hardest-hit areas, while a less powerful tremor was reported in North Sumatra province.
Five people were injured, one critically, in a shooting involving multiple gunmen at Virginia State University early Saturday, authorities said, a day after six people, including a suspected shooter, died in separate shootings in Michigan.
Romania and neighboring Hungary are facing an energy crisis linked to a record heat wave and the related low level of the Danube River, with Romania forced to shut down its last operating nuclear reactor while Hungary struggles to keep the only one of its four Paks reactors still operating online.
An elderly Christian leader has been detained in India for allegedly offending the religious sentiments of the Asian nation’s Hindu majority on social media.
Members of Pakistan’s Christian minority were reeling Friday after numerous violent incidents over faith and what they say were false allegations of blasphemy against Islam, the majority religion in the Asian nation.
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits remained relatively low in early August, offering another sign that widespread layoffs have yet to take hold even as hiring across the U.S. economy remains subdued.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out a second preemptive airstrike in Gaza in two days Thursday, targeting a Hamas terror cell in Khan Yunis that Israeli military officials said was preparing an attack against Israeli forces.