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Syria-Turkey relations

Defense Minister Israel Katz speaks with Israeli troops in southern Syria, August 25, 2026. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)
August 25, 2026, 7:56 pm
Katz: Israel won’t leave Syria buffer zone so long as ‘jihadist threats’ remain
Defense minister, visiting troops, tells Syrian president ‘when you wake up in Damascus and see IDF on Mount Hermon, know we’re here to defend our communities and border’
By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa meets with US President Donald Trump (not pictured) on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, July 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
August 25, 2026, 11:54 am
Sharaa says Syria ‘shakes off a dark stain’ with removal from US terror list
Syrian president says sanctions relief step sets country on path to rebuild after destructive civil war; Turkey hopes it will boost effort to reintegrate Damascus into world
By AFP
Decommissioned Syrian Air Force planes are seen at the Abu al-Duhur military airport, east of Idlib, following the takeover of the area by Syrian opposition fighters on December 7, 2024. (AP/Omar Albam)
August 24, 2026, 6:06 pm
Strike on Syrian airbase signals Israel’s growing unease with Turkey’s regional ambitions
Critics question why Ankara’s longstanding presence suddenly required force, but experts say Turkish military systems could threaten IDF freedom of action and help Erdogan expand his influence
By Stav Levaton
A Syrian army checkpoint stands abandoned near the Abu al-Duhur military airport, east of Idlib, after Syrian opposition fighters took control of the area on December 7, 2024. (AP/Omar Albam)
August 19, 2026, 5:37 pm
Ankara rejects Israeli ‘allegations’ on airbase, but Syrian officials confirm Turkish visit
Turkey slams Israel for trying to ‘legitimize unlawful airstrikes’ after Jerusalem accused it of planning deployment; IDF chief in Syria: Israel won’t allow ‘hostile forces’ along border
By Agencies, Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff
Decommissioned Syrian Air Force planes are seen at the Abu al-Duhur military airport, east of Idlib, following the takeover of the area by Syrian opposition fighters on December 7, 2024. (AP/Omar Albam)
August 19, 2026, 5:27 am
Israel confirms striking Syrian air base, saying Turkey was planning to deploy forces
Netanyahu’s office asserts Damascus was repeatedly warned ‘such a deployment would pose a threat to Israel’s security’; Trump’s envoy says US working to establish deconfliction mechanism for Israel, Syria and Turkey
By Emanuel Fabian and Agencies
A locomotive is exhibited outside the historic Hejaz train station in Damascus on January 26, 2025. (LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
June 10, 2026, 11:41 am
Turkey, Saudi Arabia agree on major regional railway line bypassing Israel
Ankara touts deal that would curb Jerusalem’s influence, as lack of Israeli-Saudi normalization stalls progress on an India-Europe trade corridor passing through Jewish state
By Michael Bachner
Members of Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) arrive at the Kurdish-held city of Ain al-Arab, also known as Kobane on January 23, 2026, after they withdrew from the Al-Aqtan prison in the Raqa province of Syria. (AFP)
January 30, 2026, 11:23 pm
Syrian government, Kurds agree on integration deal; US hails ‘historic milestone’
Deal will see Syrian Democratic Forces gradually merged into state’s military after Syrian army captured swaths of Kurdish enclaves this month
By Reuters and ToI Staff
Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) forces withdraw from al-Aktan prison on the outskirts of the northeastern city of Raqqa, bound for Kobane, on January 23, 2026. (Bakr ALKASEM / AFP)
January 23, 2026, 3:15 pm
Syrian government takes over prison from Kurdish-led SDF, amid focus on ISIS inmates
Damascus announces control of prison in Raqqa, UN refugee agency struggles to access camp for ISIS families and EU warns of potential breakout amid Kurds’ rapid loss of territory
By Agencies
Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Kurdish-led and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces speaks during an interview with the Associated Press, in the northeastern city of Hassakeh, Syria, Thursday, October 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Hogir Al Abdo)
October 17, 2025, 12:55 am
Commander of Kurdish-led Syrian militia says deal reached to merge into national army
After months of stalled talks, SDF’s Mazloum Abdi says the ‘tens of thousands’ of troops under his command will enlist ‘as large military formations’ rather than on individual basis
By HOGIR AL ABDO
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (2nd L) posing for a photograph next to Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (L), Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra (2nd R) and Head of Syrian Intelligence Hussein al-Salama during a meeting in Ankara, Turkey, on August 13, 2025. (HANDOUT / TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY / AFP)
August 14, 2025, 3:56 pm
Turkey to supply Syria with arms, equipment under new military accord
Turkish Defense Ministry source says Ankara will train Syrian army if needed, bemoans lack of compliance by Kurdish-led SDF with March deal to integrate it into Syrian state
By Tuvan Gumrukcu
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (R) meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Ankara on August 13, 2025. (TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY / AFP)
August 13, 2025, 9:31 pm
Turkey and Syria accuse Israel of fostering chaos in Syria
In meeting, Ankara’s foreign minister says Jerusalem trying to achieve security by undermining neighbors; Damascus top diplomat: Israeli strikes to support Druze a dangerous challenge
By Agencies and ToI Staff
In this handout photo released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry press service, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, left, sits with Syria's interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, during their meeting in Damascus, Syria, on August 7, 2025. (Turkish Foreign Ministry via AP)
August 7, 2025, 11:53 pm
Visiting Damascus, Turkish FM pledges to deepen ties with Syria, blasts IDF actions
Turkey’s Hakan Fidan credits US, Europe for ‘providing significant support’ to new regime led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, says Israel ‘pursuing a policy of destabilizing’ the Mideast
By Agencies
This handout photograph taken and released by Turkish Foreign Ministry press service on May 24, 2025, shows US Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrack (L) shakes hands with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) during a meeting in Istanbul. (Handout / Turkish Foreign Ministry, AFP)
May 24, 2025, 10:01 pm
Syrian leader hailed by US envoy for moves on ‘relations with Israel,’ foreign fighters
Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Thomas Barrack in Turkey, is also hosted by Erdogan, amid reports he kicked Palestinian factions out of Syria as part of US conditions for lifting sanctions
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, shakes hands with Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa during a joint press conference following their meeting at the presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP/Francisco Seco)
April 11, 2025, 6:47 am
Israel will need to get used to Turkey’s growing footprint in Syria
Post-Assad Syria needs a strong country to help it out of the chaos, and Turkey wants in; with America backing Erdogan, there’s little Israel can do beyond insisting on red lines
By Nurit Yohanan
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar speaks at the Israeli embassy after his meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, April 3, 2025, in Paris. (AP/Nicolas Garriga)
April 3, 2025, 3:26 pm
Sa’ar: Israel could end Gaza war ‘tomorrow’ if Hamas frees hostages, exits Strip
Foreign minister also says both Jerusalem and Paris interested in stable Lebanon, preventing Iran from acquiring nukes, after meeting French counterpart in Paris
By Lazar Berman, Agencies and ToI Staff
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