Israel Warns Turkey Against Military Expansion in Syria After Airstrike

Israel has no intention of deteriorating its relationship with Turkey but firmly opposes Turkey's attempts to establish military bases in Syria, a senior Israeli security official stated following an Israeli airstrike in Syria. The official emphasized that the Syrian regime bears responsibility for the situation. Israeli defense assessments indicate that Turkey is trying to exploit Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa's weakness to gain a foothold in Syria, which could limit the Israel Defense Forces' operational freedom and pose a threat near Israel's border.

In response, Israel's political and military leadership, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, and Military Intelligence Chief Major General Shlomi Binder, decided to conduct the strike at this stage. The operation was carefully planned to send a clear message without escalating tensions or causing casualties. The airstrike targeted the Abu al-Duhur military airport in northwestern Syria's Idlib region, approximately 80 kilometers from the Turkish border and 300 kilometers from Israel.

The strike occurred shortly after reports of a Turkish military delegation visiting the site. Initially, Israel refrained from claiming responsibility, but following U.S. comments, the Prime Minister's Office issued a cautious statement acknowledging the action. Subsequently, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video message in Hebrew directly addressing Turkey with a succinct warning: "Don't."

A senior security source noted that the Syrian regime, allied with leaders from the U.S., France, Turkey, and other Middle Eastern countries, is working to rebuild its military capabilities, including air defense systems. Israel is determined to prevent Syria's military strengthening, particularly the deployment of air defense systems, stating, "Sometimes words are exchanged for missiles. We will not accept that."