A new round of hostilities erupted between Israel and Turkey after Israeli warplanes struck the Abu al-Duhur military base in Idlib province, northwestern Syria. Israel said the base was being prepared to house Turkish troops, which it sees as a security threat.
Israel carried out eight airstrikes that hit the airfield and buildings at the base, with no casualties reported. While Israel said the aim was to prevent a Turkish military presence at the base, Ankara has categorically denied that Turkish troops were there or were planning to establish a base there.
Turkey responded harshly to the attack, describing the Israeli move as irresponsible and a threat to Syria’s sovereignty. Ankara said it would continue to support the Syrian government, particularly in the building and training of its own forces. The Syrian government has said Turkish officials have previously visited the base, but it was part of a training and experience-sharing partnership, and there is no plan for a permanent Turkish base.
The incident has raised the risk of the rivalry between the two Syrian states escalating into direct military confrontation. Turkey is a NATO member, while Israel is a key US ally. The US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, said the attack was a dangerous move that could escalate the situation, noting that Turkey was not informed in advance of the strike.
The crisis comes as Ankara has significantly increased military cooperation with Damascus. Turkey trains and supports Syrian forces, while Israel fears that the new Syrian government could gain a strong military power with Turkish support. Therefore, the Abu al-Duhur attack can be seen as a message from Israel to Damascus and Ankara that it will not accept a Turkish military presence that it sees as a threat to its security.
Meanwhile, Israel has issued a stern warning to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz saying that his country will not tolerate anyone who poses a threat to its security. Turkey, in turn, has insisted that it will defend Syria’s sovereignty, indicating that the two sides are now directly competing for Syria’s political and military future.