Israel’s strikes push Syria towards Mecca defence pact membership

Israel’s escalating campaign to stop Syria rebuilding its military with Turkish help appears to be backfiring, after Damascus signalled it was considering joining the new mutual-defence pact formed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Securing a Washington-mediated security deal with Israel remains Syria’s top priority, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani reportedly told Roman Gofman, the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, at a meeting in Amman on Sunday. Such a deal would see Syria receive security guarantees from Washington in exchange for limiting its military cooperation with Turkey. But if those talks fail, Damascus is weighing the alternative of joining the defence pact, which would commit member states to come to each other’s aid in case of attack. The shift in thinking comes as Israeli air strikes have repeatedly targeted Syrian military sites, aiming to prevent the country from rebuilding its armed forces. Israeli officials fear that a stronger Syrian army, backed by Turkish technology and training, could pose a long-term threat. Syria’s potential move toward the pact would mark a significant regional realignment, drawing Damascus closer to Ankara and Riyadh while further complicating Israel’s security calculations. The final decision, according to sources close to the talks, will depend on whether Washington can offer Syria a credible alternative.