Israel Warns Turkey Not to Intervene in Syria
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday (20/8) that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is “dragging Turkey into a dangerous adventure in Syria.”
The statement came after Israel launched an airstrike on the Abu al-Duhar air base in Syria earlier this week. Israel claimed that Turkish forces were about to be deployed at the site.
“Israel will not allow any party that threatens our security,” Katz wrote on platform X.
Responding to the statement on the same day, the Turkish Ministry of Defence denied that it had deployed military forces to the Syrian air base. Nevertheless, Turkey stressed that it would continue to support Syria’s efforts to develop its infrastructure and military capabilities.
The Turkish Ministry of Defence also criticised Israel’s actions, describing the attack as “unacceptable”, “reckless” and potentially threatening peace and stability in the region.
A ministry spokesman added: “In this regard, our efforts and contributions to protect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity will continue in earnest, with the aim of helping to create safe and stable conditions.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had warned Syria not to allow a Turkish presence at the air base.
“Our message was very clear: do not do it. I do not think they fully understood the message,” Netanyahu said on Wednesday (19/8).
Meanwhile, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani stated that Israel had no official justification for the bombing. He stressed that before the attack there were no plans to deploy Turkish troops at the site.
“There was no intention to establish a Turkish military base or to build a permanent Turkish military headquarters, nor even to station Turkish troops at the location,” al-Shaibani said in an interview with US media outlet Axios on Wednesday (19/8).
He added that the largely empty air base was not yet operational. The facility was in the process of being restored so that it could later be used by the Syrian Air Force.
Al-Shaibani acknowledged that several Turkish military officers had visited the site a few days before the Israeli attack. However, he stressed that the visit was part of “ongoing military cooperation in the field of training and exchange of expertise.”
This week’s Israeli attack in Syria came amid rising tensions between Turkey and Israel.
Last year, the two countries established a communication channel to avoid unwanted incidents in Syria, where the militaries of both countries operate.
Israel has repeatedly launched airstrikes in southwestern Syria since former Syrian leader Bashar Assad was toppled in 2024. The attacks have been driven by concerns about armed groups linked to Syria’s new rulers.
On the other hand, Turkey has deployed its military forces in northern and eastern Syria for years. Turkish forces are also one of the main allies of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The Turkish government accuses Israel of seeking to destabilise the country in order to weaken its new government.
Turkey and Israel also hold differing views regarding the war in Gaza.
Syrian Foreign Minister al-Shaibani said Syria remains open to negotiations with Israel to ease tensions. However, he stressed that any future agreement must take into account the security interests of both parties and respect Syria’s sovereignty.