Presence in Syria for absence from Gaza force: US deal to Türkiye
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The US is reportedly considering a proposal to allow Türkiye greater involvement in Syria as compensation for "Israel’s" rejection of Ankara's role in Gaza.
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US President Donald Trump greets Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in Washington (AP)
The United States is reportedly weighing a proposal to allow Türkiye to expand its presence in Syria as compensation for "Israel’s" opposition to Ankara’s involvement in Gaza, the Israeli i24NEWS channel reported.
Diplomatic affairs editor Amichai Stein said that Türkiye is seeking to establish a presence in Syria and has recently examined former Syrian army bases to determine potential deployment sites.
He explained that this could come as part of a US deal with Ankara, under which Türkiye would be denied a role in Gaza, due to Israeli opposition, but granted a position in Syria instead. “You can’t say no twice to Washington,” Stein noted, suggesting that "Israel" cannot reject Türkiye’s involvement in both Gaza and Syria.
According to Stein, this arrangement would effectively serve as compensation for Ankara, as Türkiye considers maintaining a foothold in Syria a strategic priority and has no intention of giving it up.
On the issue of indirect talks between Syria and "Israel", Stein added that Washington is interested in another round of contacts and had been waiting for a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa.
He claimed that the US administration believes the gaps between the two sides are not major; there are challenges to address, but no dramatic obstacles.
Türkiye signals interest in joining Gaza stabilization force, 'Israel' rejects
Türkiye has sought a prominent role in Gaza’s future, signalling its interest in providing humanitarian aid, participating in reconstruction, and even joining a stabilization force in the enclave.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has described Türkiye as having a “crucial responsibility” in Gaza’s recovery, and Turkish officials have publicly offered troops for a multinational force. The country’s long-standing ties to Gaza, including aid infrastructure and political alignment with the dominant local actors, underpin this ambition.
However, the Israeli occupation has made clear its strong opposition to Turkish involvement in Gaza in a security or military capacity. Israeli officials insist that Turkish armed forces will not be allowed on the ground in Gaza as part of any international stabilization mission.
The opposition stems in part from Ankara’s vocal criticism of Israeli operations in Gaza, Türkiye’s previous support for local Resistance factions, and concerns in "Israel" that Turkish influence in Gaza would undermine Israeli strategic interests.
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