Media: Israel faces strategic constraints as Türkiye deepens engagement in Syria

Israel is increasingly confronted with Türkiye’s expanding presence in Syria, particularly following Israeli airstrikes in early April that targeted three Syrian airbases Türkiye was reportedly planning to utilise.

This incident sparked rare public comments from Ankara, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan saying that “Türkiye has no interest in fighting any country on Syrian soil,” Caliber.Az reports per The Times of Israel.

A week later, Fidan announced in an interview with CNN Turk that Türkiye and Israel are engaging in technical-level talks aimed at avoiding “military confrontations” in Syria as the country seeks stability in the wake of Bashar al-Assad’s downfall. Despite these diplomatic efforts, Israel’s concerns over Türkiye’s growing influence in Syria remain.

“Ultimately, when it comes to Syria, Türkiye simply cares more about it than Israel does and invests accordingly. Israel’s interest in Syria is purely security-oriented,” said Gallia Lindenstrauss, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), in an interview with The Times of Israel. “That gives Ankara the upper hand.”

Further complicating Israel’s position is the backing Türkiye has received from the United States. Lindenstrauss noted that US President Donald Trump’s support for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan limits Israel’s ability to counter Türkiye’s actions. “President Trump made it clear in the last meeting with [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu in Washington that while he’s willing to help Israel with Türkiye, Israel must make ‘reasonable demands,'” Lindenstrauss added.

“He’s pushing Israel to adopt a minimalist approach in Syria. To prioritise, Israel will have to insist only on its most critical red lines, like preventing Iranian arms transfers to Hezbollah through southern Syria.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev