Gideon Sa’ar, Israel’s Foreign Minister, has said that Israel does not seek to escalate tensions with Turkey but will oppose the establishment of Turkish military bases in Syria. He emphasized that Israel is seeking to preserve the status quo and prefers a diplomatic solution.
Speaking to Israel’s Channel 12, Sa’ar referred to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s influence in Lebanon and Gaza, saying that Israel does not want a similar situation to emerge in relations between Turkey and Syria. He also underscored Israel’s concerns over the expansion of military presence and influence in Syria.
The remarks come amid rising tensions between Israel and Turkey over developments in Syria in recent days. Last week, Israeli fighter jets targeted the Abu al-Duhur airbase in northern Syria, an operation that Tel Aviv linked to its security concerns over the possible presence of Turkish forces.
Israel has claimed that the Abu al-Duhur airbase was on the verge of hosting Turkish forces and considers such a deployment a security threat. Syria and Turkey, however, have rejected the claim and offered differing accounts of the nature of any potential Turkish presence at the base.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said there had been no plans to establish a permanent Turkish military base at Abu al-Duhur. According to him, the presence of Turkish officers at the site was solely part of training cooperation and the exchange of expertise.
Turkey’s Ministry of Defense has also denied that any Turkish military delegation was present at the Abu al-Duhur airbase, either before or at the time of the Israeli strike. As a result, the parties involved continue to disagree over the purpose and nature of any potential Turkish presence at the base.
Israel has expressed concern since last year over Turkey’s growing military influence in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government. Israeli officials have repeatedly warned that Israel will not allow hostile forces to deploy or establish new military bases in Syria if, in Tel Aviv’s view, such developments pose a threat to its security.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
