Ankara has been negotiating with the new Syrian provisional government to take control of the base, where it could be in a better position to engage ISIS (Islamic State) forces that still maintain a stronghold in the region. The Turkish military could use the T-4 as a drone operations facility.

NATO member Turkey has reportedly been readying its military to take control of the Tiyas Air Base, known as T-4, in the Homs Governorate of central Syria near Palmyra. However, the former Syrian Air Force facility can only be described as being in “rough shape” as the Israeli Air Force (IAF) has carried out strikes on the base, including one as recently as early April, to limit its use by Islamist forces.

Israel has bombed numerous facilities in Syria since the fall of the Russian-backed regime of Bashar al-Assad in December.

“In the past hours, the IDF struck military capabilities that remained at the Syrian bases of Hama and T4, along with additional remaining military infrastructure sites in the area of Damascus. The IDF will continue to operate to remove any threat to Israeli civilians,” the IDF announced via a post on Telegram.

Turkey Could Still Move in on the Syrian Bases

Ankara has been negotiating with the new Syrian provisional government to take control of the base, where it could be in a better position to engage ISIS (Islamic State) forces that still maintain a stronghold in the region. The Turkish military could use the T-4 as a drone operations facility.

If and when Turkey takes control of T-4, it will likely deploy its domestically produced air defense system.

“A Hisar-type air defense system will be deployed to T4 to provide air cover for the base,” a source in the Turkish military told Middle East Eye.

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

There have been reports that Ankara is also considering deploying one of its Russian-made S-400 Triumf air defense systems to the Syrian base, at least during its reconstruction. That could derail any talks with Washingtonover Turkey‘s return to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, which Ankara was expelled from for adopting the Russian platform during Trump‘s first administration.

The United States and NATO have argued that the S-400 isn‘t compatible with the stealth fighter, and it could compromise the F-35‘s security.

Though Turkey has received two batteries of the S-400 Triumf, neither has been put into operation. As previously reported, options have been on the table, including Ankara selling the S-400 to another country, with India as a potential buyer.

Another plan called for the launchers to be stored at a U.S. military facility in Turkey. Russia would need to approve any sale and likely would protest a transfer to a U.S.-controlled facility.

Turkey Deploys the S-400 and Desires the F-35

Last month, U.S. president Donald Trump spoke with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss a path back to Turkey‘s rejoining the F-35 program. Beyond the fact that the deployment of the S-400 to T-4 could stall those efforts, the United States will still have to balance the concerns of Israel, which strongly opposes Turkey‘s access to the F-35.

Israel has sought to maintain a qualitative military edge (QME) in the region. However, the Jewish state somewhat reluctantly backed a proposal in 2020 for the United States to sell the fifth-generation stealth fighter to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The IAF operates the F-35I Adir, an Israeli-specific aircraft variant that ensures it can maintain its QME.

Turkey’s Complicated Geopolitical Relationship with Syria

Turkey has called for Israel to withdraw its forces from Syria, which Ankara has warned is harming stabilization efforts in the region. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has also maintained that his nation wants no confrontation with Israel in Syria.

However, deploying the S-400 to T-4, which is located about halfwaybetween the borders of Turkey and Israel, may help matters.