Israel has bombed a Syrian airbase 70km from the Turkish border in what analysts say is a direct challenge to Ankara’s growing regional influence — coming shortly after Türkiye signed the Mecca Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Israeli warplanes carried out eight airstrikes on the Abu al-Dhuhr military airbase in northern Syria yesterday, causing significant damage to its infrastructure.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office claimed that Syria violated the status quo relating to security matters between the two countries by “permitting Turkish troops to deploy at an airbase near Aleppo.”
Turkish authorities have rejected the claims from Netanyahu’s office regarding the presence of Turkish troops, saying the statements were intended to justify an “unlawful” airstrike targeting Syria’s territorial integrity.
Ankara said the accusations against Türkiye stem from Netanyahu’s intention to pursue an “expansionist and destabilising” policy across the region ahead of elections in Israel.
Turkiye’s Communications Directorate said: “Like the vast majority of the international community, Türkiye advocates for lasting peace in our region. The only way to achieve this is for Netanyahu to abandon his aggressive and coercive policies and respect international law.”
Mecca Defence Agreement challenged
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
Analysts have pointed out that the attack immediately followed the signing of the Mecca Defence Agreement between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and that it may suggest Israel is seeking to undermine Ankara’s credibility as an ally in Syria.
Reports claim that the strike occurred as Türkiye was preparing to take control of the base and that the strikes were carried out shortly after an official Turkish delegation had left the base following a visit.
Syrian officials have denied the claims, stating that a Turkish technical team had only been on site to help repair a runway and control tower, and denying the presence of any military personnel.
The officials added that Türkiye was helping the Syrian army rebuild its bases across the country, with no mention of plans to target or destabilise Israel.
Reporting in an Israeli outlet, Thomas Barrack, the U.S. envoy to Turkey and Syria, said that the strike “carried a real risk of rapid escalation into a direct military confrontation between Israel and Turkey as well as Syria.”
Barrack said on Wednesday: “Turkish forces were not aware that the Israeli aircraft were en route to that specific Syrian base, nor of their intended purpose, and therefore could potentially have been inclined to scramble their own jets in the belief that they themselves were under attack.”
A symbolic strike
Insiders close to Ankara’s government said they believed the strikes were intended as an election stunt ahead of Israel’s next elections, as well as a chance to undermine Turkish support for Syria.
One of the insiders told Middle East Eye: “The Mecca Accords with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which Israel has presented as a new Sunni axis, put Netanyahu in a difficult position domestically. It is a way of telling Erdogan that they won’t let him feel comfortable in Syria.”
Despite the threatening strike from Israel, Ankara has reaffirmed its commitment to cooperating with and helping build Syria.
Turkiye’s official statement said: “Türkiye will resolutely continue to cooperate with the Syrian government on a legitimate basis to establish peace, stability, and prosperity in Syria, and will never allow the destabilisation of Syria.”
