Israel says it does not want tensions with Türkiye to escalate following an Israeli airstrike on Syria's Abu al-Duhur military airbase in Idlib, amid a dispute over Ankara's reported plans for a military presence there.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said Israel was committed to preserving the status quo and preferred a diplomatic solution. At the same time, he made clear that Israel would not accept the establishment of Turkish military bases in Syria, Al Jazeera reported, citing ANI.
Why Did Israel Strike The Syrian Base?
Israel struck Abu al-Duhur on August 18, with the attack damaging the facility but causing no deaths, according to The Associated Press.
Israel said it carried out the strike over concerns that Syria could allow Türkiye to establish a military presence at the base. Israeli officials said such a move would violate existing understandings over military activity in the area.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military had repeatedly recommended strikes on the site because of reports about Türkiye's plans to deploy forces there, ANI reported, citing The Times of Israel.
Israel's ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, also said Israel had received intelligence indicating that Türkiye planned to significantly expand its military presence in Syria. He described the move as a “red line”, according to the Jerusalem Post, cited by ANI.
Türkiye Rejects Israel's Claims
Türkiye has denied planning to establish a military base at Abu al-Duhur and condemned Israel's strike as a violation of Syrian sovereignty, Reuters reported.
Syrian authorities have also denied plans for a permanent Turkish base at the facility. They acknowledged, however, that Turkish officers had visited the airbase as part of military cooperation involving training and the exchange of expertise, ANI reported.
Why Türkiye's Role In Syria Matters
The dispute comes as Türkiye expands its military and security cooperation with Syria's new government following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
Ankara has been supporting efforts to rebuild Syria's armed forces, according to AP. This growing cooperation has raised concerns in Israel over a possible increase in Turkish military activity inside Syria.
For now, Sa'ar's comments suggest that Israel wants to avoid a direct confrontation with Türkiye while maintaining its opposition to any permanent Turkish military bases in Syria.
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