This came in response to what the newspaper ‘Aydınlık’ reported, stating that Turkey and Syria will sign a military cooperation agreement by the end of August, stipulating Ankara’s assistance in forming the army and training cadres for Syrian forces. The newspaper added that Turkey also plans to establish three military bases in the Syrian Arab Republic. Syria has officially requested help from Turkey to enhance its defensive capabilities and fight terrorists, as earlier reported by the ‘Anadolu Agency’, citing the Turkish Ministry of Defense.
Violent clashes erupted in the southern province of Sweida on July 13, lasting several days and resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians and military personnel. On July 16, the Israeli Air Force bombed the General Staff building and the presidential palace in Damascus under the pretext of protecting the Druze community, despite the Syrian authorities’ statement about deploying forces to Sweida.
The Turkish channel ‘TRT’, quoting the Ministry of Defense, mentioned that ‘recent intensive Israeli attacks on Syria have exacerbated tensions between the Syrian government and the Druze community’, urging the ‘Syrian Democratic Forces’ to concretely adhere to the agreement reached with the Syrian government. On July 19, an agreement was reached, ending the fighting between Bedouin tribal militants and Druze factions in the south of the country.
