ASELSAN MOVES DRONE-BUSTER DRAGON INTO PRODUCTION
Aselsan, the flagship defense contractor, is moving its anti-drone system Ejderha (Dragon) into production, adding to elements of the planned Steel Dome missile shield.
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ALEPPO SEES DANGEROUS MILITARY ESCALATION AMID STALLED DAMASCUS-SDF TALKS
A dangerous escalation has erupted between Damascus forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in two strategically important neighborhoods of Syria’s northern city of Aleppo. As clashes intensified, evacuation notices, issued Dec. 8. by Syria’s central government in the two key districts, have raised the possibility of a military operation. Simultaneously, the Defense Ministry said that Turkey would support an expected Syrian army operation in Aleppo “if requested.”
TURKEY BEGINS TRAINING SOLDIERS FOR GAZA ISF DESPITE ISRAEL’S OBJECTIONS
Even though Israel objects to Turkish soldiers serving in the Gaza International Stabilization Force (ISF), Defense Minister Yaşar Güler announced that soldiers are being trained for the task.
ANKARA FRAMES ALEPPO FIGHTING AS COUNTERTERRORISM OPERATION
Amid renewed clashes between the Syrian government and Kurdish-led militia in Aleppo, the Turkish Defense Ministry said that the Turkish army would support the operation if Damascus requested assistance.
DAMASCUS–SDF INTEGRATION TALKS ENTER CRITICAL PHASE
The integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the Syrian armed forces has entered a critical phase, emerging as one of the central pillars of Syria’s fragile transition following the overthrow of Bashar Assad on Dec. 8, 2024. Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra said Syria has formally delivered a 13-point roadmap outlining the integration of the SDF into the new administration, with further details expected in the coming days.
SOUTH CYPRUS SEEKS U.S. AND EU WEAPONS AS MILITARY TIES WITH ISRAEL DEEPEN
South Cyprus is seeking large-scale military support from both the United States and the European Union, while expanding defense cooperation with Israel, in a move raising concerns in Ankara and Northern Cyprus.
S-400 DECISION LOOMS IN U.S.-TURKEY DEFENSE RESET
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said that the United States is close to lifting restrictions imposed on Turkey since 2017 after Turkey purchased S-400 systems from Russia. However, the conditions under which the sanctions will be lifted remain unclear.
SOMEONE CALLED FURKAN
Furkan Karabay, 29, is a journalist and has been detained three times in the past two years. On the 201st day of his latest imprisonment, he was sentenced but released. He refused to present a defense, tearing up the indictment in the courtroom.
TURKEY’S 2026 BUDGET MISSES £5.4B EUROFIGHTER COST
Under the agreement signed between Turkey and the U.K., the £5.4 billion payment to the Eurofighter consortium for 20 Typhoon fighter jets was not included in either the Defense Ministry’s budget or the Defense Industry Presidency's (SSB) budget. The Defense Industry Support Fund (SSDF) can be used as a source of funding for this project, but the cost of the Typhoons is approximately double the annual amount transferred to the fund from taxes collected by the state.
DEFENSE MINISTRY BUDGET UP 31.9% EXCLUDING EUROFIGHTER DEAL
The Defense Ministry’s budget, 623.9 billion lira in 2025, is set to increase 31.9% to 822.9 billion lira in 2026, according to figures released during parliamentary budget talks Nov. 26. This allocation does not cover Turkey’s latest procurement of Eurofighters.
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION INTO C-130 CRASH WILL TAKE TWO MONTHS
The tail broke off first, and then the fuselage split into three pieces, according to preliminary findings in the C-130 transport plane that crashed in Georgia on Nov. 11, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler said.
ANKARA IS DECISIVE ON FLYING OVER AEGEAN SEA WITH EUROFIGHTERS
The Defense Ministry denied reports that Turkey cannot use the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets it will procure from the U.K. against Greece over the Aegean Sea.