Israel has warned Turkey that its planned expansion of military forces in Syria crossed a “red line” and said the warning was followed by Israeli strikes on a Syrian airbase near Aleppo. Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter said the action came after intelligence showed Turkey was preparing a major military move that Israel viewed as a serious breach of existing understandings.
Syrian officials said the airfield was hit in at least eight strikes. Satellite images later showed damage to the runways, according to The Jerusalem Post. Leiter said Israel had received clear intelligence that Turkey planned to expand its military presence in Syria. He said the alleged move broke understandings reached during the Biden administration that had kept the situation in Syria largely frozen. “Those who needed to know what was coming knew,” Leiter said, adding that Israel had made clear the move would violate the understandings.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also issued a short warning after the strikes: “Israel made the message clear: Don’t.
Despite the latest strikes, Leiter said Israel believes the Syrian government does not want a direct conflict with Israel. Leiter cited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s repeated criticism of Israel and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s statement that “Israel is a stain on humanity.”
