Israel Views Turkey as Strategic Rival, Not Enemy, Official Says

Israel considers Turkey a strategic rival but not a hostile state, a senior Israeli diplomat stated, commenting on the current state of bilateral relations. According to Israeli intelligence, neither Jerusalem nor Ankara is interested in direct military confrontation, despite recent incidents. These statements come amid heightened tensions following an Israeli strike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Syria, located near the Turkish border. This operation was reportedly aimed at preventing an increased Turkish military presence in the region.

Military friction between the two nations intensified after Israeli Air Force jets struck targets in Syria's Idlib province. Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Yehiel Leiter, indicated that Israel acted based on intelligence about "red lines" being crossed but emphasized that the country does not seek war with its neighbors.

Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Israel's actions, accusing it of violating Syrian sovereignty. U.S. diplomats had previously attempted to establish a trilateral mechanism to prevent aerial incidents, but this effort faced difficulties.

In addition to de-escalation attempts, Israel has ceased transmitting diplomatic messages to Turkey via Azerbaijan. Previously, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had facilitated dialogue channels and crisis prevention. The cessation of this format means regional security is now maintained without customary intermediaries, although both sides continue to assert they have no intention of escalating to actual armed conflict.