Turkish officials say Syria asked Ankara to help boost defense capabilities after Sweida violence

ANKARA, Turkey — Syria’s interim government has requested Turkey’s support to strengthen its defense capabilities, Turkish officials say, following sectarian violence over the past two weeks that increased tensions in Syria and drew intervention by Israel.

The Turkish Defense Ministry officials, who speak on condition of anonymity according to procedures, say that Syria has also sought assistance to combat “terrorist organizations,” including the Islamic State group.

Turkey — which has long expressed readiness to assist Syria — was working toward providing training, advisory services, and technical support to help strengthen Syria’s defense capacity, the officials add.

Syrian officials cannot be immediately reached for comment.

Tensions escalated in southern Syria last week, with violent clashes erupting between Bedouin Arab tribes and Druze militias in Sweida province. The conflict triggered Israeli airstrikes on convoys of government forces in Sweida and on Syria’s Defense Ministry headquarters in central Damascus, which Israel justified as efforts to protect Druze communities.

Turkey, which strongly supports Syria’s interim government led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, has been seeking a defense agreement with Syria that could reportedly include establishing Turkish military bases on Syrian territory.

Ankara also backs an agreement reached between the interim Syrian administration and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, to integrate into Syria’s national army. Implementation of the deal has stalled, with a major sticking point being whether the SDF would remain as a cohesive unit in the new army or be dissolved completely.