Israel Raises Alarm Over Turkey’s Growing Military Presence in Syria
Israeli officials are increasingly concerned about Turkey’s expanding military role in Syria, warning that a deeper Turkish presence could create new security challenges for Israel and complicate relations with Washington.
Israel recently carried out a strike on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur Air Base in Idlib province, saying it had intelligence indicating that Turkey was seeking to expand its military capabilities at the site.
Turkish officials have rejected the accusations and denied plans to establish military bases or deploy advanced defence systems in Syria. However, Israeli security officials remain unconvinced.
One senior Israeli source claimed Turkey intended to deploy radar systems and attack drones at the Syrian air base under Syrian cover. The official said Israel would not accept the deployment of Turkish military forces on Syrian territory.
Turkey has maintained a significant military presence in northern Syria since 2016, when Ankara began operations during the Syrian civil war and later became involved in fighting Kurdish-led forces. Turkish officials have previously indicated that Ankara does not plan to withdraw its forces from Syria in the near future.
The growing disagreement highlights a potential new source of tension between Israel and Turkey, while also raising questions about how the United States would respond if Ankara’s military footprint in Syria expands further.
