Israeli Concerns Over Turkish Influence in Syria… Netanyahu Explores Escalation Options
Tel Aviv views the growing cooperation between Ankara and Damascus as a strategic threat that could surpass the Iranian danger, potentially leading to escalatory measures
March 24, 2025, 7:15 pm

Israeli Concerns Over Turkish Influence in Syria… Netanyahu Explores Escalation Options

علما إسرائيل وتركيا

Israeli fears regarding Turkey’s influence in Syria have intensified, with Hebrew media reports indicating that Tel Aviv perceives Turkish expansion as a direct security threat, possibly leading to a confrontation between the two sides.

According to Walla news, Damascus is engaged in advanced negotiations with Ankara over handing control of the Tadmur region to the Turkish military in exchange for economic and military support. This has alarmed Tel Aviv, which fears that such an agreement could allow Turkey to expand southward, raising the risk of direct engagement with Israel.

Similarly, Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has held multiple security meetings to assess the implications of Turkey’s maneuvers in Syria, seeking to persuade the security establishment that a clash with Ankara may be "inevitable."

Israeli security sources have confirmed that intelligence agencies are evaluating potential escalation scenarios, particularly as the Syrian regime attempts to rebuild its military and missile capabilities in the south, near Israel’s border.

According to The Jerusalem Post, an Israeli government committee has recommended preparing for a possible confrontation with Turkey, warning that the Ankara-Damascus alliance may pose a greater threat than Iranian influence, citing what the committee described as "Turkey’s expansionist ambitions in the region."

On the ground, Israel has strengthened its presence in the buffer zone within Syria, reportedly engaging with local communities—particularly in Druze villages—by providing humanitarian aid in a bid to solidify its influence.

Observers believe that rising tensions between Israel and Turkey may be part of a broader shift in Syria’s power dynamics, as Ankara and Damascus move closer, potentially reshaping regional balances.

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Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
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