Unprecedented aerial confrontation between Turkey and Israel in Syrian airspace.

The Syrian skies witnessed an unprecedented confrontation on the evening of Friday, May 2, between Turkish and Israeli warplanes, coinciding with Israeli airstrikes targeting multiple sites in the vicinity of Damascus and Hama, as revealed by the opposition Turkish newspaper "Sozcu."

The newspaper's report indicated that Turkish F-16 aircraft entered Syrian airspace during the Israeli attack, conducting reconnaissance flights over the operation areas, especially areas subjected to intense Israeli bombardment, including eight targets, among them sites belonging to Syrian factions supported by Ankara, such as the "Sultan Murad Brigade" and the "Suleiman Shah Brigade."

"Sozcu" mentioned that Turkish fighters used electronic warfare systems to transmit warning signals to Israeli aircraft, and a short wireless communication took place between the two sides, but the situation did not escalate into direct conflict, indicating both sides' keenness to avoid escalation.

This incident occurred amidst a noticeable escalation of military tension in Syria, with Ankara beginning to strengthen its cooperation with the Syrian government in the north, while Israel continues to target sites considered vital to Ankara or its allies. The newspaper described the developments as potentially the start of an "open-ended confrontation" between the two sides.

On the other hand, the report mentioned that Israel bolstered its air presence after the incident, sending an additional squadron of fighters, raising the total number of Israeli aircraft involved in the operations to 14. There were also reports of Israeli warnings conveyed to Washington, stating that Tel Aviv "will not hesitate to target Turkish aircraft in the future if they repeat airspace violations during their operations."

On the Turkish side, Ankara maintained official silence regarding the incident until the news was published, without issuing any statement clarifying the reasons for its military movements. However, Turkish security sources _according to the newspaper_ interpreted the step as a "preemptive deterrent message" aimed at protecting Turkish spheres of influence in northern Syria and conveying a firm stance against repeated Israeli targeting.

It is worth noting that this aerial confrontation is the first of its kind between Turkey and Israel in Syrian airspace, amid fears of it escalating into a broader confrontation given the rapidly evolving developments on the ground.