Description: Turkish Defense Ministry has announced its plan to establish a military base in the Homs province and take control over the Tiyas Air base also known as T – 4 Air Base. Officials from the Turkish Defense Ministry confirmed the deployment of aerial assets in the country as well as Hisar air defense systems which would ensure uninterrupted reconstruction of the regional infrastructure. The move reaffirms the close cooperation between Turkey and Syria’s current regime led by HTS (Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham) and President Ahmed al Sharaa and aims to counter Israeli military advances in the eastern parts of Syria.
Impact: Turkey is currently using the deteriorating security state of affairs in Syria and the closely established relations with the current Syrian regime to initiate regional strategic dominance. The move also aims at countering Israel’s regional goals as the two countries are heavily divided on the Palestine issue. The base establishment could also be interpreted as Erdogan’s attempt to solidify and consolidate power after the alleged suffocation of a possible coup led by the former Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu, which led to mass demonstrations in the country. Power posturing by both Israel and Turkey puts the countries on a collision course in the long term as they both exploit Syria as the proxy ground for furthering regional strategic interests.