Turkish leader calls critical security meeting to tackle military modernisation and Syrian conflict

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to hold a critical meeting of Türkiye's National Security Council (NSC) on December 5, 2024, to address a range of pressing national security concerns, particularly in light of the rapidly escalating situation in Syria. 

This meeting will focus on counterterrorism measures in northern Syria and the latest developments in northern Iraq, where areas previously cleared of terrorist groups are now facing new threats, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

One of the key agenda items will be the ongoing updates to Türkiye's National Security Policy Document, known to the public as the "red book," which outlines Türkiye’s defence strategy. Another critical point of discussion will be the strengthening of the Turkish Armed Forces, which includes the planned acquisition of 40 F-16 fighter jets and 40 Eurofighter jets, along with the issue surrounding six 5th-generation F-35 jets, currently held in the United States. 

The background to this meeting is the ongoing crisis in Syria, which took a significant turn following a large-scale offensive launched by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other armed opposition groups. On November 29, 2024, the militants began advancing from northern Idlib towards Aleppo and Hama, two strategically important regions. 

By November 30, the rebels captured Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, along with its surrounding areas, including the international airport and the Kuweiris military airfield. This marked the first time since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011 that the city had been entirely under militant control. Previously, the opposition only controlled the eastern part of Aleppo, but they were ousted by Syrian government forces in 2016, backed by Russian military support.

After capturing Aleppo, the militants shifted their focus to Hama, where they seized the town of Maaret Nuuman. However, the Syrian Army managed to halt their advance by December 1 and launched a counteroffensive. This resulted in the liberation of several towns and villages from the insurgents.

By December 5, the situation had worsened, with anti-government forces, led by HTS, clashing with Syrian Army units just a few kilometres from Hama's city centre. These clashes led to the capture of 20 additional villages. As a result, Hama is now surrounded on three sides, and fierce fighting continues. Reports indicate that over 100 Syrian army soldiers have been killed in the recent clashes.

The developments in Syria are expected to be a central topic of discussion during Erdogan’s National Security Council meeting, as the Turkish government seeks to navigate the complexities of regional security and counterterrorism efforts. This high-level discussion will also consider the broader implications for Türkiye's military strategy and international relationships.

By Tamilla Hasanova