Kathmandu— Israel has strongly cautioned Türkiye against increasing its military presence in Syria, days after conducting an airstrike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in northwestern Syria. Israel claimed the base was being prepared to host Turkish troops, a claim denied by both Damascus and Ankara. The escalating exchange highlights growing rivalry between the two countries, particularly within the context of the Syrian conflict and diverging regional security interests.

Israeli Airstrike and Accusations

On Tuesday, Israel attacked the Abu al-Duhur airbase, inflicting damage but reporting no casualties. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stating on X that he was “dragging Turkey into dangerous adventures in Syria.” Katz further accused Erdogan of making “empty and delusional” anti-Israel statements and warned against challenging Israel’s resolve to defend itself.

Syrian Security Concerns

Benjamin Netanyahu’s office asserted that the situation in Syria threatened a long-standing security “status quo,” alleging Damascus was poised to allow Turkish troop deployment. Both Syria and Türkiye have refuted any plans for such a deployment. Israel has consistently opposed a strengthened Turkish military presence in Syria, citing concerns it could jeopardize Israeli security and limit its operational capabilities within the country.

Regional Alliances and Escalation Risks

Recent reports indicate that Ankara views the Israeli strike as a direct challenge to its standing as a regional security partner. This comes after Türkiye signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, establishing a collective defense pact where an attack on one nation is considered an attack on all three—potentially heightening the consequences of any military confrontation involving Türkiye. Sources also noted Israel did not utilize established military hotlines to communicate with Türkiye prior to the strike, increasing the risk of miscalculation.

Deteriorating Bilateral Relations

Relations between Israel and Türkiye have significantly deteriorated in recent years, fueled by disagreements over Gaza. Erdogan has repeatedly accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of genocide and likened him to Adolf Hitler, while Netanyahu has responded with accusations of antisemitism and genocide against the Kurds. The exchange of personal attacks continued as recently as June.

US Ambassador to Türkiye and Syria envoy Tom Barrack urged both sides to de-escalate tensions following the airstrike, emphasizing the need to avoid further military incidents.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.