Syria, officially known as the Syrian Arab Republic, is an Arab nation in the Middle East, situated in the Levant region. The country boasts a rich history and some of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.
In 1963, Syria's government was taken over by the Ba'ath Party, led by Hafez al-Assad. For decades, he and his son and successor, Bashar al-Assad, would rule the country in a reign that has been highly criticized for being totalitarian and for carrying out widespread human rights abuses.
In 2011, a major civil war broke out in Syria, leaving governance of the country fractured between the Russia- and Iran-backed Assad regime based in Syria's largest city and capital of Damascus, US-backed rebel groups led by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Turkey-backed forces, and Islamists under the banner of Hay'at Tahir al-Shams (HTS).
However, in December 2024, HTS and its allies carried out a major offensive from their base of operations in the Idlib province, eventually fully ousting the Assad regime and seizing control of Damascus as well as other major cities such as Homs and Aleppo. Currently, HTS has been spearheading the establishment of a new Syrian interim government. However, the country still remains fractured between them, Assad loyalists, Turkey-backed forces, and the SDF and its allies.
Defense Minister Israel Katz later stated that Israel's strikes were "a warning for the future" and that Syria could potentially pay a heavy price.
As reported this week by the Post, Ankara wants to turn the T4 base into a Turkish drone base and serve as the protector of Syria's skies.
Khazali claims the goal of the ‘David Corridor’ is to “reach the Kurdish lands in Iraq and Syria, considering the ongoing cooperation [between Israel and the Kurds]."
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This comes as both countries are at a crossroads. Syria is trying to unify itself after years of civil war while both countries face threats from ISIS.
This comes amid the growing cooperation between Ahmed al-Sharaa's regime in Syria and the government of Turkish President Erdogan.
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The Abraham Peace Corridor would enhance regional and global security and peace through trade and commerce, all within the framework of the Abraham Accords.
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The government includes ministers educated in the West, one woman, and members of the Druze, Kurdish, Christian, and Alawite groups.