Syria: Israel Katz warns Turkey against 'dangerous adventures'

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has directly warned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan against pursuing "dangerous adventures" in Syria, delivering his message in Turkish to ensure it was understood. This strong statement escalates the diplomatic tension between the two nations over Ankara's role in the Syrian conflict.

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Israel will not allow any actor to threaten its security.

Katz explicitly stated on X, formerly Twitter, that "Israel will not allow any actor to threaten its security." He advised Erdoğan to continue his "unrealistic and imaginative discourse against Israel" within the Turkish parliament rather than testing Israel's resolve for self-defense. This direct address signifies Israel's firm stance against any perceived Turkish expansionism or actions in Syria that could be perceived as a threat.

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Instead of trying to test Israel's determination for self-defense, it would be better for Erdoğan to continue his unrealistic and imaginative discourse against Israel in the Turkish parliament.

The warning comes in the wake of recent Israeli airstrikes on a Syrian military airfield located near the Turkish border. Both Syria and Turkey condemned these attacks, labeling them as violations of Syrian sovereignty. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously accused Syria of allowing Turkish troops to be stationed at the targeted airfield, a claim that both Syrian officials and Ankara have denied. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani emphasized that there was no intention to establish a permanent Turkish military presence at the airfield.

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Don't!

Netanyahu had reiterated Israel's intolerance for any expansion of Turkey's military presence in Syria moving southward and threatening Israel, conveying a message to Ankara: "Don't!" This warning echoes a similar message delivered by U.S. President Joe Biden to Iran and Hezbollah in October 2023. The already strained relations between Israel and Turkey have further deteriorated since the onset of the Gaza war, with Erdoğan frequently criticizing Israel's actions against Palestinians and maintaining close ties with Hamas.

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Syrian military airfield near the Turkish border