The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, issued a strong warning to Turkey and stated that Israel will not allow Ankara to establish a permanent military presence in Syria, especially in areas close to the Israeli border.
The statement came a day after the attack on the military airport of Abu Duhur in the Syrian province of Idlib, amid a growing dispute between Israel and Turkey over Syria's military future.
Netanyahu explained that Jerusalem had initially conveyed a general warning about the possibility of Turkey setting up a military base at an airfield near Aleppo. However, according to his account, the message was not understood by the Turkish authorities.
“Apparently, they did not hear it, so we made sure they understood it more clearly”, the leader stated during an interview with the Israeli Army radio.
Netanyahu made Israel's red line clear
The Israeli Prime Minister emphasized that his government's opposition is not limited to a specific base or military installation, but targets any attempt at expansion of Turkish forces into southern Syria.
“We will not tolerate a Turkish military entrenchment advancing southward, as it threatens us”, Netanyahu asserted.
The Prime Minister's office had previously indicated that Syria was close to authorizing the deployment of Turkish troops at a military base. For Israel, that move would alter the strategic balance in an area it considers crucial for its security.
Although Netanyahu did not make a detailed claim regarding the attack on Abu Duhur, his statements established a direct link between the operation and Israel's concern over the potential establishment of Turkish forces on Syrian territory.
Turkey denied preparing a military base
Ankara rejected the Israeli interpretation and denied that it is preparing to establish a military base or a permanent troop deployment in the area mentioned by Jerusalem.
The dispute occurs at a time of growing tension between Israel and Turkey, whose relations have deteriorated especially since the start of the war in Gaza. Now, Syria appears as a new confrontation scenario between the two countries.
