Israel Turkiye Tension: Turkey on Thursday categorically denied that it had any military presence at an air base in northern Syria that was attacked by Israel earlier this week.
Turkey on Thursday rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s allegations and clearly said that it will not fall into his ‘trap’. Ankara denied that any Turkish military delegation was present at the Abu al-Zuhur air base in northern Syria that was attacked by Israel. Ankara also reiterated its resolve to continue to ‘firmly’ support Syria’s sovereignty. Let us tell you that this denial comes two days after Syria accused Israel of attacking an unused military airport near the north-western city of Aleppo. The airport was damaged during the civil war and has been out of service since 2012.
In fact, Israel had claimed that a Turkish military delegation had recently visited the site. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the Syrian war, also said the visit was part of efforts to reactivate the base. At the same time, a Turkish defense official told journalists on condition of anonymity that no Turkish military delegation was present at Abu al-Zuhur airport before or during the attack by Israel.
What did Netanyahu say?
Let us tell you that the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had also said that the Turkish Army recently visited the base. Netanyahu himself warned that Israel would not tolerate any ‘threat’ from Türkiye’s presence there. “We will not tolerate Turkish military buildup moving south, because it is a threat to us,” he said in an army radio podcast.
Türkiye will take action for defense
In response, Turkish Defense Ministry spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk termed these attacks as ‘unacceptable’. He said Ankara would act ‘firmly’ to protect efforts to establish stability in Syria after the war. Speaking to journalists, he said the Israeli attack on Abu al-Zuhur airport was aimed at damaging Syria’s stability, security, unity, integrity and infrastructure.
Attacks that violate Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are unacceptable. In this context, our efforts and contributions to safeguard Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and help it establish a stable and secure environment will continue resolutely.
Will not fall into Netanyahu’s trap
However, the Turkish Presidential Office immediately clarified that it was not considering any retaliatory action. “We are experienced enough not to fall into the trap of people like Netanyahu, whose aim is to undermine peace and stability in our region,” Presidential Office communications director Burhanettin Duran said, speaking to state news agency Anadolu. He further said that Netanyahu is adamant on this irrational stance due to the upcoming elections, internal political tensions and apprehensions. They see hostility toward Türkiye as a political lifeline.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Tuesday that the Israeli strikes followed ‘a visit by a Turkish military delegation in recent days as part of efforts to reactivate the airport’.
