Netanyahu Issues Stern Warning to Turkey Over Military Presence in Syria

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a strong warning to Turkey on Wednesday in response to reports of increasing military cooperation between Ankara and the new Syrian government in Damascus. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel will not tolerate the establishment of Turkish military forces in Syria that could threaten its northern border. "We will not allow a Turkish military foothold in Syria that threatens Israel," he declared firmly.

Netanyahu indicated that Israel had already communicated this message to relevant regional actors, using the direct term "Don't." He added pointedly, "Apparently they did not hear it well enough, so we made sure they understood it better." This statement followed a rare phone conversation last Thursday between Mossad chief Ronen Bar and Syria's new Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani, during which the Turkish military presence in Syria was discussed. The call occurred just days before Israel launched a significant airstrike on a military base in northern Syria.

Israel took unusual responsibility for the strikes on the Abu al-Duhur base in northwest Syria, accusing Damascus of violating the security status quo by allowing Turkish forces to deploy near Aleppo. The Prime Minister's Office stated that Israel and Syria had agreed to maintain the security status quo, which Syria was on the verge of breaching.

Meanwhile, U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrett told Reuters that Turkey had not received prior warning of the Israeli strikes but was able to prepare a response once Israeli jets were detected heading north. He noted that "calm heads" prevented further escalation and highlighted the need for a stronger mechanism to prevent misunderstandings among Israel, Turkey, and Syria. Washington is currently assisting with information sharing and dialogue but sees the necessity for direct communication channels to avoid future conflicts.

Turkish media responded aggressively to Israel's actions, labeling them as "serious provocation" and blaming Israel for tensions. Netanyahu's remarks underscore Israel's vigilant monitoring of Syria's evolving geopolitical landscape since Bashar al-Assad's regime fell and its determination to act militarily to prevent any regional force from threatening its security. The growing Turkish military presence in Syria remains a central concern for Israel amid Ankara's increased activity in the area.