Tensions between Israel and Turkiye over Syria have intensified following a strike on an airbase, highlighting growing rivalry between the two regional powers over developments in the neighbouring country.
Israel claimed Damascus was preparing to allow Turkish troops to deploy at Abu al-Duhur airbase and said Syria had ignored warnings that such a move could threaten Israeli security. Turkiye rejected the claim.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani told Axios that there were no plans to establish a Turkish military base at Abu al-Duhur. He said Turkish military officers had visited the northwestern Syrian facility days before the strike as part of ongoing cooperation involving training and the exchange of expertise.
Turkiye’s Defence Ministry also denied that a Turkish military delegation was at the base before or during the attack. It said Ankara would continue supporting Syria’s efforts to strengthen its military capabilities and infrastructure.
The ministry urged Israel to end what it described as reckless attacks and respect international law, warning that such actions could undermine peace and stability in Syria and the wider region.
According to sources, the issue of possible Turkish military deployments in Syria was discussed during a rare phone call on August 14 between Shaibani and Roman Gofman, head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz also warned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan against involving Turkiye in what he called “dangerous adventures” in Syria, saying Israel would defend its security.
Turkiye, a NATO member sharing a roughly 900-kilometre border with Syria, played a major role in the country’s 13-year civil war by supporting anti-Assad rebels and conducting military operations against Kurdish groups it considers a security threat.
Israel’s concerns over Syria have shifted since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in 2024. While Tehran’s influence was previously a major Israeli concern, Ankara’s growing role has now emerged as a key issue.
Israel has carried out repeated strikes in Syria since Assad’s removal and seized territory in the country’s southwest, citing concerns over the background of Syria’s new leadership and the need to protect the Druze community.
Developments in Syria have also become a significant issue ahead of Israel’s October 27 election, with opinion polls suggesting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could face electoral losses amid continued questions over his security record following the Hamas-led attacks in 2023.
