Israel Sends Warning Shots to Turkey Through Strikes on Syria

Syria Desk

“Israel” has intensified its attacks on Syria, striking multiple strategic sites in what it described as “direct warnings” to Turkey. The latest strikes destroyed large sections of the Hama and T-4 military airports—T-4 being the base Turkey is reportedly preparing to convert into a military base equipped with air defense systems, just like developing the Menagh airbase in northern Aleppo. In addition, “Israel” struck the Barzeh research center and, most recently, Brigade 75 near Al-Kiswah, both in the Damascus countryside.

According to Israeli officials, the airstrikes are part of a campaign to counter Turkey’s growing military influence in post-Assad Syria. An Israeli security source told the Jerusalem Post that the attacks were “direct messages to Turkey,” which “Israel” accuses of “imperialist expansion,” arming and training the Syrian military,y and entrenching its forces across the country. “We do not seek direct confrontation with Ankara,” the source added.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar claimed that Turkey is trying to turn Syria into its own “protectorate”, while Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Syria’s transitional president, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, that “any party attempting to alter the status quo in a way that threatens Israel’s security will pay the price.”

Syrian authorities have not released casualty figures, but local sources reported ambulances rushing to Hama airport, now used by the Suleiman Shah Brigade (Al-Amshat), a faction closely tied to Turkish intelligence. The group’s commander, Mohammad Hussein al-Jassem (Abu Amsha), was recently appointed a brigadier general and now leads Division 25 of the newly formed Syrian army. Accused of committing massacres in coastal and Kurdish regions under Turkish command, the group’s history has been used by activists to frame Israeli attacks as targeting “Turkish-backed terrorists”—a narrative reminiscent of previous attempts to justify aggression as countering Iranian influence.

Turkey’s official response came later, with the Foreign Ministry condemning Israeli aggression and calling for an end to its “expansionist policies” and occupation. “Israel has become the greatest threat to the security of our region,” the statement read. It demanded that “Israel must stop undermining stabilization efforts in Syria”, adding: “The synchronized air and ground attacks have no explanation other than an Israeli foreign policy fueled by conflict.” In a sharp rebuke, the ministry said Israeli ministers “cannot hide their genocidal war in Gaza, settler terrorism, annexation plans in the West Bank and regional ambitions by blaming Turkey.”

Defense Ministry spokesperson Zeki Aktürk dismissed reports about Turkey’s plans to establish an airbase in the Syrian desert, urging the public not to believe “false and misleading” information unless it came from official sources. Turkey confirmed only the establishment of a joint military training base with Syria’s neighbors—part of a five-nation agreement with Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria to rebuild the Syrian army and combat terrorism.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Egypt issued official condemnations of the Israeli strikes. Riyadh denounced the attacks on five Syrian regions as violations of international law and called for firm accountability. Egypt echoed this stance, labeling the strikes a “blatant assault” on Syrian sovereignty and an exploitation of internal unrest. Cairo urged international actors to pressure “Israel” to comply with the 1974 disengagement agreement and end its occupation.

These reactions align with broader regional aspirations. Saudi Arabia seeks to expand its influence in Syria, while Egypt cautiously re-engages with the new administration, sending occasional signals of support paired with warnings against extremist fighters and tighter controls on Syrian individuals' entry to Egypt. Reports indicate that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is working to arrange a meeting between President Donald Trump and Syria’s transitional president next month.