Yair Golan Condemns Israeli Airstrike in Syria, Warns of Escalation with Turkey

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democratic Union party, sharply criticized Israel's recent airstrike in Syria, calling it a provocative and dangerous move that risks escalating conflict with Turkey and deepening rifts with key allies, especially the United States. Golan accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being an extreme and unreliable leader whose actions undermine Israel's regional partnerships and security. "Israel needs leadership that uses military power to secure safety, not to provoke wars for political survival," Golan stated.

Earlier, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi visited southern Syria a day after the airstrike near Aleppo, emphasizing Israel's vigilance amid ongoing multi-front conflicts. He warned that hostile forces, including Turkey, would not be allowed to establish positions near Israel's borders and pledged precise military responses as needed. Kochavi stressed the need for constant readiness due to potential escalations across various fronts.

The airstrike targeted a Syrian airbase near Aleppo, approximately 70 kilometers from the Turkish border, following Syria's breach of a security status quo by permitting Turkish forces to deploy there. The Israeli government viewed this as a direct threat and acted after repeated warnings were ignored. Tom Barrack, envoy of then-U.S. President Donald Trump, expressed concern that the strike, conducted without prior notification to Turkish forces in the area, risked triggering a direct military confrontation between Israel and Turkey. Barrack noted ongoing U.S.-led quiet talks aimed at restoring a deconfliction mechanism involving Israel, Syria, and potentially Turkey, to prevent future incidents through reliable, around-the-clock communication.