Netanyahu Warns Turkey After Israeli Strikes on Turkish Assets in Syria
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a direct warning to Turkey following Israeli strikes on Turkish-linked assets in Syria, accusing Ankara of attempting to expand its military presence southward.
“We will not tolerate a Turkish military entrenchment that is progressing southward. We said this in general terms. Now, we have seen that Turkey had an intention to establish itself at an airfield near Aleppo. And we delivered a message. The message was delivered, but apparently they did not hear it. So we made sure they understood it better.”
Netanyahu’s remarks signal a growing confrontation between Israel and Turkey over Ankara’s expanding military footprint in Syria. The dispute risks adding another major regional fault line as both countries seek to shape Syria’s post-Assad security order.
The Israeli strikes and Netanyahu’s warning indicate that Jerusalem is prepared to use military force to prevent what it considers a threatening Turkish military presence near Aleppo and elsewhere in northern Syria.