"Yedioth Ahronoth": Israeli concerns grow due to Turkish movements in Syria

A military analysis published in the "Yedioth Ahronoth" newspaper revealed growing security concerns within the Israeli army due to Turkish movements in Syria, especially after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime late last year. Military analyst Ron Ben-Yishai highlighted that Turkey is trying to fill the political and security vacuum in Syria by enhancing its regional influence through forming a Sunni Islamic alliance to counter the Shiite influence led by Iran. The report indicated that Israel responded to these movements with airstrikes targeting several Syrian military bases, notably the T4 airport in Homs, following hostile statements by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to the analysis, these strikes aimed to thwart alleged Turkish plans to deploy advanced air defense systems in Syria. The report also highlighted statements by Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, who warned the Syrian government against allowing any military presence hostile to Israel on its territory, emphasizing that Israel's protection is a "red line." Ben-Yishai explained that what Israel views as a "new Ottoman policy" aims to expand Turkish influence by establishing military bases in several countries, including Syria and Iraq, to control energy supply routes in the Eastern Mediterranean. Israel also expressed concerns about the new Syrian army turning into a pro-Turkey force, especially if former members of "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham" take part with Turkish support. The analyst warned that Turkish military presence in Syria poses a dual threat: militarily by restricting Israeli movement and politically by forming a Sunni axis stretching from northern Syria to Jordan and Palestine, potentially replacing the traditional Shiite axis. Despite the escalation, the report revealed undisclosed Israeli diplomatic efforts, in cooperation with Washington, to divide spheres of influence in Syria: the north to Turkey, the coast to Russia, the south to Israel, and the oil-rich eastern regions to the United States, with an interim administration for the remaining areas until stability is achieved. Ben-Yishai noted that Israel still maintains communication channels with Turkey, thanks to shared intelligence and economic cooperation, and Ankara's membership in NATO, unlike the tense relationship with Iran. The report concluded by pointing out that the Turkish issue in Syria will be a major topic at the upcoming summit between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump, alongside the Iranian nuclear file and the issue of prisoners in Gaza.