Israel launched a wave of airstrikes on Syrian military airfields this week, in what officers confirmed to Fox Information Digital was “meant to ship a transparent message to Turkey to not intervene with Israeli aerial operations in Syrian airspace.”
The escalation marks a turning level in Jerusalem’s stance towards Ankara, as Turkey makes an attempt to develop its army presence in Syria amid regional instability.
The Israeli Protection Forces struck strategic property at each the Hama army airport and the T-4 airbase, together with runways, gas storage websites, radar techniques and weapons caches. The strikes comply with weeks of intelligence gathering by the Israeli air power, which tracked army property within the focused bases.
The airbases, which had been underneath the management of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, at the moment are reportedly being eyed by Turkey for expanded use and the deployment of air protection techniques.
Chief of the Normal Workers LTG Eyal Zamir visited and carried out a situational evaluation within the Space of Separation in Syria. (IDF)
Turkey has signaled rising ambitions in Syria. Experiences from Middle East Eye point out that Turkish forces have begun strikes to take management of the T-4 base and are planning to put in air protection techniques there. Because the fall of Assad in December, Ankara has accelerated negotiations with Syria’s interim authorities over a possible protection pact.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry reacted sharply to the Israeli strikes, labeling Israel’s authorities as “racist and fundamentalist,” accusing it of expansionist ambitions. “Israel’s assaults in Syria, with none provocation, are inconceivable and point out a coverage that thrives on battle,” a ministry spokesperson stated. The assertion additional condemned Israel’s army operations as a menace to regional safety.
Fox Information Digital requests for remark to the Turkish embassy spokesman in Washington, D.C., weren’t returned.
Dr. Sinan Ciddi, a Turkey professional on the Basis for Protection of Democracies, informed Fox Information Digital that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is trying to capitalize on the regional vacuum left by Russia and Iran.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan observes a army train in Izmir, Turkey, on June 9, 2022. (Picture by Xinhua by way of Getty Photographs)
“Erdogan is making an attempt to reignite Turkey’s affect within the area as a form of neo-Ottoman energy,” stated Ciddi. “He sees Iran’s proxies weakened, Russia overstretched, and is positioning Turkey to dominate the area — notably by army footholds just like the airbases.”
Ciddi stated Erdogan’s lengthy recreation consists of projecting energy in Syria, currying favor with the brand new authorities in Damascus and convincing the U.S. to grant Turkey entry to F-35 fighter jets in trade for “managing” Syria.
“Erdogan needs to go to Trump and say, ‘I’m the massive man right here. Depart Syria to me, simply give me the F-35s,’” Ciddi stated. “However Israel sees this as a direct menace. Bombing the T-4 runway was a transparent message: you’re not welcome right here.”
The Turkish chief’s recent inflammatory rhetoric — together with prayers for the destruction of Israel throughout a Ramadan service — has additional alarmed Israeli and American observers.
Throughout a latest webinar hosted by the Jewish Institute for Nationwide Safety of America (JINSA), former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman referred to as for pressing diplomatic intervention.
Safety forces loyal to the interim Syrian authorities trip at the back of a automobile shifting alongside a street in Syria’s western metropolis of Latakia on March 9, 2025. (OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)
“There must be some quiet discussions with Turkey about firming down the rhetoric about Israel — threats to destroy it, whether or not coming from the president or his son at rallies,” stated Edelman. “There must be some form of effort to deconflict over Syrian airspace.”
Edelman additionally warned that renewed F-35 gross sales to Turkey should include situations: “If Turkey is definitely going to own the F-35, there must be some very clear understandings about the place they’ll use it.”
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Alan Makovsky, JINSA Jap Mediterranean Coverage Mission member stated, “We will by no means assume statements like this are simply rhetoric,” including, “Erdogan has alluded up to now to having the ability to ‘come abruptly one evening’ — we’ve got to take that significantly.”
Inside Israel, officers are carefully watching Turkey’s strikes in Syria. Avner Golov, vice chairman of Thoughts Israel, emphasised that the present disaster displays a deeper ideological menace.
“Iran is clearly the top of the novel camp, however Erdogan is making an attempt to place himself because the second head — and he’s no much less harmful when it comes to potential,” he stated. “He doesn’t use proxies the identical approach Iran does. He intervenes instantly, together with inside Israel by Palestinian residents and political activism.”
An Israeli Air Drive F-35 Lightning II fighter plane throughout an air present in Tel Aviv on April 26, 2023. (JACK GUEZ/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)
“Israel has diplomatic ties with Turkey, however Erdogan retains blocking significant safety cooperation in NATO” Golov added. “Now that Turkey is shifting south into Syria, we [Israel] have to escalate the principles of engagement. We will’t permit Turkey to create a long-range air protection umbrella on our border.”
Golov stated the present administration wants to know that Erdogan’s ambitions transcend Syria. “He needs to grow to be a patron state, to manage the skies, and to forestall Israeli operations by claiming we’re violating Syrian sovereignty. Nevertheless it’s not about sovereignty — it’s about energy and shaping the brand new Center East in Muslim Brotherhood colours.”
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On the latest protests towards the jailing of the mayor of Istanbul, Ciddi stated, “We’ve seen an excellent problem to Erdogan with these rising public protests — in all probability the largest for the reason that 2013 Gezi protests … jailing an opposition candidate earlier than they even run is a transparent signal of weak point. Erdogan doesn’t care about worldwide criticism or financial fallout — all he cares about is sustaining his regime. That’s not energy, it’s desperation.”
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