Turkey has significantly increased the flow of weapons and money into Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, Kan News reported on Wednesday morning.

According to the report, Turkey has its eyes on several Syrian Air Force bases, some of which were supported by Iran in the past.

The most prominent of these is the Tiyas (“T-4″) airfield in central Syria, which the IDF attacked last week. According to Middle Eastern media outlets, Turkey recently initiated efforts to take control of the T-4 airfield and is planning to deploy air defense systems there.

According to sources familiar with the matter quoted by the Middle East Eye website, construction is currently taking place to transform the facility into a permanent Turkish military presence.

“Turkey has begun moving to take control of the T4 air base, located near Palmyra in central Syria,” the sources said. “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 report added that 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 the Kan report, Turkey is also eying additional bases in Syria, including the Palmyra airfield, the Deir ez-Zor airfield, and the Menagh Airbase in northern Syria.

According to a report by the Syrian North Press Agency, Turkey has already begun building a base inside the Menagh Airbase.

“Turkish forces have begun constructing a military base inside Menagh Military Airbase in northern Aleppo countryside, northwestern Syria in recent days,” the report stated, citing a source. “Turkish forces started transporting massive concrete slabs and logistical materials using large transport vehicles into Menagh Military Airbase, approximately six kilometers south of Azaz, to establish an air defense center.”

Turkey wants to turn the airbase “into a fully operational air defense base, including the restoration of helicopter landing pads, as part of efforts to strengthen its military presence in northern Syria.”

The report added that there are claims that Turkey is also building a base in northwestern Syria near the town of Manbij.

Israel is very concerned about Turkey’s increased presence in Syria, which at its worst is a direct threat to Israel, and at its best, is a hindrance to the IDF’s freedom of operation in the unstable country.

A senior IDF official told The War Zone (TWZ): “The establishment of a Turkish Air Force base in Palmyra, Syria could heighten regional tensions and increase the risk of conflict with Israel. Given Israel’s ongoing efforts to prevent hostile military entrenchment in Syria, any significant Turkish military presence, especially in strategic locations like Palmyra, could be perceived as a threat to Israeli security interests.”

“Recently, Israel has conducted airstrikes against military infrastructure in the region, including the T-4 airbase near Palmyra,” he added. “While there have been no direct confrontations between Israeli and Turkish forces so far, the situation remains sensitive and requires close monitoring.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly warned Israel about intervening in Syria.

“Those seeking to benefit from Syria’s instability will not succeed,” Erdogan said last month. “We will not allow them to divide Syria as they imagine.”

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu held a cabinet meeting earlier this week over increasing tensions with Turkey and conveyed a message that a confrontation with Ankara is inevitable

In January, a state committee warned that Israel should prepare for a possible direct confrontation with Turkey.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)