On the road to Gog and Magog? Increasing Turkish military presence in Syria concerns Israel

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan invited Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham leader and Syrian interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa to Ankara for discussions regarding the establishment of Turkish bases in Syria, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Several sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters that Erdoğan and al-Sharaa discussed the possibility of establishing two Turkish bases in Syria's central desert region, including a former Russian airbase (T4) east of the city of Homs. 

The agreement could also include the use of Syrian airspace for military purposes and Turkish participation in the training of the forces of the new Syrian army. 

The report also said that the agreement could include Turkish protection of Syrian airspace to prevent future attacks, such as the Israeli strikes aimed at destroying military supplies left by the former government of Bashar al-Assad. 

According to a report in "Middle East Eye", Turkey has already begun formulating construction plans for the base, which is located near the city of Palmyra in central Syria. That report claims that Turkey would initially establish air defense systems on the base, before stationing long-range UAVs, such as the Turkish Bayraktar TB2, which has seen extensive use by Turkish forces and Turkish militias against Kurdish fighters in Syria, Iraq, and eastern Turkey, as well as in Libya. 

An Israeli security source said that any Turkish air base in Syria would harm Israel's freedom of action. "This is a potential threat that we oppose," the source said. 

While the Turkish air force is not as advanced as the Israeli Air Force, which boasts newer versions of the F-16 and F-15 fighter planes also used by Turkey, as well as the F-35 stealth fighter, the Muslim country is working to develop its own fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, the "TF Kaan."

The Kaan was developed by Turkey after its involvement in the F-35 program was terminated by the United States over its purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system. On paper, the Turkish Aerospace Industries' (TAI) Kaan claims to be superior to the F-35, but it is still in development and not ready for combat roles, while the F-35 has already demonstrated itself to be a valuable part of the IAF. 

Israeli defense officials are said to be very concerned over Turkey’s push to gain official military access to Syria. While Turkey likely sees the move as important for being able to threaten and contain Kurdish forces in the northeast of Syria, Turkish President Erdoğan’s repeated threats against Israel over the past decade also have Israeli officials concerned that the country might begin to implement its Neo-Ottoman ambitions in the rest of the Levant more aggressively. 

Turkey has significantly increased the flow of weapons and money into Syria following the collapse of the Assad regime, and it has strongly supported the new government. 

BREAKING 🔴

According to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham military journalists, Turkey is deploying military convoys to Syria to establish bases in the Homs and Damascus regions.

This is a disaster in the making. pic.twitter.com/x1BDeiVUSs

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) April 2, 2025

Israeli officials are also reportedly concerned that a Turkish air force presence in Syria in the near future could prevent Israeli participation in a joint strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, or Israel’s ability to strike Iran in retaliation for possible future attacks from the Islamic Republic. 

Turkey gave significant backing to the Syrian rebels who overthrew the Assad regime, including Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, and the Turkish-funded Syrian National Army (formerly called the Free Syrian Army). 

In January, Syria’s new Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra welcomed Turkish partnership, stating that the new government would work to build strong regional ties, saying, “and through these ties we will be able to build our military power well.” 

Previously, Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler had indicated Turkey’s willingness to provide military support to the new Syrian government, saying the country was also willing to discuss a Turkish military presence “when the necessary conditions are ripe.” 

A security official told The Jerusalem Post, “We targeted the military T4 base recently to send a message that we will not allow harm to our air freedom of operation.” 

[Editor's note]

The expansion of Turkish military forces into Africa over the past decade, especially into Islamic countries, along with its Neo-Ottoman irredentist moves in northern Syria, has also caught the attention of many in the world of Christian Bible prophecy interpretation. 

For some, the presence of the Turkish forces in the modern-day countries named by the prophet Ezekiel in his apocalyptic vision of the war of Gog and Magog against the nation of Israel appears to have prophetic significance. 

These moves, together with Erdoğan’s repeated comments about returning to Jerusalem, appear to signify to many in the Christian Bible prophecy community that modern geopolitical interests and biblical prophecy are converging.