Turkish-American-Israeli competition in central Syria.
Central Syria is witnessing an intensifying struggle for military influence among the major powers shaping the Syrian scene: Turkey, the United States, Russia, and Israel.
Turkey is rapidly advancing its plans to establish a military base in central Syria, raising concerns on the Israeli side about the potential impact of this move on its air dominance in the region, according to Israeli media reports.
Sources from the “Middle East Eye” website indicated that Ankara has been engaged in talks with Damascus since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, aiming to reach a defense agreement that ensures Turkey’s air protection and military support for the Syrian government. In this context, Ankara has initiated moves to take control of the T4 airbase near Palmyra, with plans to deploy the “Hisar” air defense system to secure Syrian airspace.
Turkey also intends to develop an integrated air defense system at the base and surrounding areas, encompassing short-, medium-, and long-range capabilities to counter any potential threats. Additionally, Turkish drones and defense systems are expected to act as deterrents against Israeli airstrikes in the area.
Furthermore, Turkey is considering the temporary deployment of the Russian S-400 air defense system at the T4 base or in the Palmyra area to ensure airspace protection during reconstruction operations. However, this move still requires approval from the Russian side.
Meanwhile, American forces are showing significant activity in the region through the U.S.-backed “Free Syrian Army,” which has expanded its presence in the Syrian Desert, reaching Al-Dumayr in rural Damascus and taking positions at the nearby military airport.
