Turkey moves to establish control over Syria’s T4 air base despite Israeli strikes: Report

Turkey has reportedly initiated efforts to take control of Tiyas Air Base, also known as the T-4 Air Base, in Syria’s central province of Homs, and is preparing to deploy air defense systems to the site.

According to sources familiar with the matter cited by Middle East Eye website, construction activities to transform the facility into a permanent Turkish military presence are progressing rapidly, signaling Ankara’s intent to entrench itself deep within the Arab nation following the downfall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in early December last year.

“Turkey has begun moving to take control of the T4 air base, located near Palmyra in central Syria. A Hisar-type air defense system will be deployed to T4 to provide air cover for the base.

“Once the system is in place, the base will be reconstructed and expanded with necessary facilities. Ankara also plans to deploy surveillance and armed drones, including those with extended strike capabilities,” the sources clarified. 

They went on to say that the base would purportedly help Turkey consolidate aerial power across the region, and “support efforts to combat Daesh,” which still has sleeper cells in Syria’s central desert regions. 

The report says Ankara plans to eventually equip the site with a complex defense system that would have short, medium, and long-range capabilities against jets, drones, and missiles. 

Another source claimed “the presence of Turkish air defense systems and drones would likely deter Israel from launching air strikes in the area.” According to reports, Israel is uncomfortable with such a plan.

The Turkish Defense Ministry has declined to comment on the report.

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Israeli officials have voiced concern over the growing cooperation between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government and Syria’s Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) administration.

According to Israeli sources speaking to the Jerusalem Post newspaper, discussions have intensified over Turkey’s possible establishment of a military base in Syria.

The Tel Aviv regime interprets such a development as a potential threat. Israeli officials have held internal discussions in recent weeks about the implications of deeper Turkish involvement in Syria.

“If a Turkish air base is established in Syria, it would undermine Israel’s freedom of operation,” an Israeli security source stated.

The security situation in Syria remains tenuous after militant factions, led by the HTS, toppled Assad’s government on December 8, 2024.

Since the collapse of Assad’s government, the Israeli military has been launching airstrikes against military installations, facilities, and arsenals belonging to Syria’s now-defunct army.

Israel has been widely condemned for the termination of the 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria and for exploiting the chaos in the Arab nation in the wake of Assad’s downfall to make a land grab.

The United Nations has condemned ongoing Israeli attacks inside Syrian territory and continuing violations in and around the buffer zone created as part of a 1974 ceasefire agreement with Damascus.  

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