Turkish navy visits Syria’s Latakia port for first time since 2011

TCG Burgazada (F-513), a domestically developed warship built under Turkey, is seen docked at the Port of Tangier in northwestern Morocco on July 10, 2026. – AA
TCG Burgazada (F-513), a domestically developed warship built under Turkey, is seen docked at the Port of Tangier in northwestern Morocco on July 10, 2026. – AA

DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Turkish naval vessels visited Syria’s Port of Latakia for the first time since 2011, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced on Monday.

In a statement, the ministry said that Turkish Naval Forces Commander Adm. Ercüment Tatlıoğlu was aboard the warship TCG Istanbul during the visit to the Syrian port.

The ministry described the port call as the Turkish Navy’s first visit to Latakia since 2011, marking the resumption of official naval engagement with Syria after more than a decade.

The visit comes amid improving ties between Ankara and Damascus following years of strained relations that began with the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in 2011.

By Taysir Mohammed