Israeli strikes in Syria pose deeper confrontation with Türkiye
Israel’s bombing of Syrian air base near Türkiye has intensified widening regional rivalry over Syria’s future and security
ISTANBUL, Türkiye (MNTV) — Israel’s bombing of a Syrian air base near the Turkish border has sharply escalated tensions with Ankara, exposing an increasingly bitter struggle between the two regional powers over Syria’s future.
Israeli aircraft struck the Abu Al-Duhur air base in northwestern Syria on Tuesday, triggering an unusually sharp exchange between Israel and Türkiye and drawing criticism from US envoy Tom Barrack, who described Israel’s attack as an ‘unnecessary escalation.’
The Israeli government defended the strike by claiming that Syria was approaching a security “status quo” violation by permitting Turkish military personnel to deploy at the facility.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel had repeatedly warned Damascus that a Turkish presence there would constitute a security threat.
Türkiye rejected the Israeli justification, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s office calling claims of Turkish deployment to the base untenable and accusing Israel of pursuing expansionist and destabilizing policies.
The confrontation underscores the increasingly incompatible agendas of Israel and Türkiye in Syria, where Ankara has emerged as a major supporter of the government led by President Ahmed Al-Sharaa.
Türkiye has provided Damascus with military assistance, training and logistical support as the Syrian government attempts to rebuild institutions and security forces devastated by years of civil war.
Israel, meanwhile, has repeatedly attacked targets across Syria since the overthrow of Bashar Assad in December 2024. Israeli operations have destroyed significant portions of Syria’s military infrastructure and established Israeli military positions in southern Syrian territory.
The Israeli campaign has raised growing concerns in Ankara, particularly as Israel seeks to preserve extensive freedom of military action across Syrian airspace while opposing the expansion of Turkish military capabilities inside Syria.
Abu Al-Duhur, located in Idlib province roughly 70 kilometers from the Turkish border, had remained largely inactive for years but was undergoing rehabilitation.
Turkish media reported that a Turkish delegation visited the air base to inspect rehabilitation work only hours before the Israeli attack, further intensifying suspicions in Ankara about Israel’s intentions.
The latest confrontation follows a rapid deterioration in Israeli-Turkish relations, particularly since Israel’s devastating war in Gaza prompted Ankara to suspend bilateral trade in 2024.
Disputes between the two governments have increasingly shifted toward Syria, where Türkiye considers the stability of the Damascus government a strategic priority while Israel views the strengthening of Syrian and Turkish military capabilities as a potential threat.
Erdoğan has repeatedly warned against Israeli military operations across the region. In June, he said Türkiye’s security was directly connected to developments in Aleppo, Damascus and Beirut and vowed that Ankara would not ignore attacks against its regional allies.
Israeli officials and analysts have increasingly portrayed Türkiye itself as an emerging security threat, with some comparing Ankara’s expanding regional influence to that of Iran.
The dispute has also entered Israel’s domestic political arena. Netanyahu’s Likud party has used Erdoğan’s image alongside Iranian, Hezbollah and US political figures in election campaign material as it seeks to portray the Turkish president as part of a broader threat confronting Israel.
The tensions are unfolding as Türkiye expands its military relationships beyond its immediate borders. Ankara maintains forces in northern Syria and operates military facilities in Qatar and Somalia, while also deepening defense cooperation with regional partners.
Earlier this month, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a defense agreement under which an armed attack against one country would be treated as an attack against all three.
Israel has previously attacked Syrian military facilities reportedly considered for Turkish use. Israeli strikes last year severely damaged Hama military airport and military installations in Homs.
For Ankara, the repeated Israeli attacks represent a broader challenge to its efforts to stabilize and rebuild Syria. Erdoğan’s office said Türkiye would continue cooperating with Damascus and would not accept efforts to destabilize the country.
The latest bombing therefore risks turning Syria into an increasingly dangerous arena for confrontation between two powerful regional militaries, with Israel’s repeated use of force further complicating efforts to establish stability in a country still recovering from years of war.
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