Defense Minister Israel Katz: "Erdogan is dragging Turkey into dangerous adventures in Syria"
Israel is sharpening its messaging toward Turkey against the backdrop of recent developments in Syria. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned the Turkish leader against testing Israel's resolve to defend its borders.
Defense Minister Israel Katz harshly criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan: "Erdogan is dragging Turkey into dangerous adventures in Syria." Katz mocked the Turkish president's anti-Israel rhetoric and warned him not to test Israel's determination to defend itself. The remarks come two days after the Israeli strike on the Abu al-Duhur base in Syria, intended to signal to Turkey that Israel will not allow a military entrenchment that threatens its security. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir have also conveyed similar messages regarding the entrenchment of hostile forces in Syria.
"It would be better for Erdogan to continue giving empty, delusional speeches against Israel in the Turkish parliament and not put Israel's determination to defend itself to the test," Katz stated.
The strike on the Abu al-Duhur military airport in the Idlib province, located about 70 km from the Turkish border, damaged runways and hangars. Last week, a Turkish delegation visited the site as part of efforts to rehabilitate the base.
Israel took responsibility for the strike, clarifying that it had warned repeatedly against the deployment of Turkish forces at the base. The move was intended to send a message to Ankara that Israel will not allow it to station weapons in Syria, including UAVs and air defense systems.
"We will not tolerate a Turkish military entrenchment in Syria that threatens Israel," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized.
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who visited southern Syria yesterday, added: "We will not allow hostile forces to entrench themselves on our borders." In the USA, there are concerns that the tension surrounding the Turkish presence in Syria and Israeli activity in the country could lead to an escalation between Israel and Turkey.
