Syria’s interim government has sought Turkey’s support to bolster its defense capabilities following a wave of sectarian violence that claimed over 1,000 lives and triggered Israeli airstrikes against the country’s armed forces. Turkish defense officials, speaking on background, told reporters on Wednesday that Syria also asked for Ankara’s help to assist in fighting “terrorist organizations,” including the Islamic State.  

The Syrian government has not officially commented on the remarks.  

The US special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, told Reuters on Wednesday that he had advised Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, to seek regional security assistance — though he did not specify from whom. Barrack also serves as the US ambassador to Ankara.

Turkey has sought to expand its military role in Syria since Sharaa, a former jihadi, overthrew the Assad regime in December. Over the past decade, Ankara and Sharaa have forged close security and intelligence ties, with large numbers of Turkish forces deployed in the northern province of Idlib, where Sharaa built his power base.