-
Turkey's Ambitions in Syria Collide with Israeli Interests... and Fidan Reveals
-
Israeli strikes in Syria reflect a clear strategy to prevent Syrian territories from becoming a backyard for Turkish expansionist ambitions and a threat to regional security
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Reuters on Friday that his country is not seeking any confrontation with Israel in Syria, but complained that repeated Israeli strikes on military sites weaken the ability of Syria's interim caretaker government to combat threats from the Islamic State organization and other sources of danger, in a clear attempt to justify increasing Turkish intervention in Syrian affairs.
During an interview on the sidelines of the NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels, Fidan claimed that Israel's actions are fueling instability in the region by targeting Syria, ignoring the fact that his country is seeking to turn Syria into a backyard for its expansionist ambitions, as some observers consider the administration of interim Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa an arm for implementing Turkish plans in the region.
He stated, "We don't want to see any confrontation with Israel in Syria because Syria belongs to Syrians," while Ankara continues its efforts to extend its influence and turn the country into a Turkish protectorate.
Israel accuses Turkey of attempting to transform Syria into a Turkish protectorate, as Tel Aviv recognizes the dangers of allowing Ankara to implement its expansionist plans on its northern border, threatening regional security and stability in the area.
In response to a question about whether Turkey's plans to conclude a joint defense agreement with Syria are pushing Israel to intensify its strikes on Syrian military bases, Fidan spoke about Ankara's work with regional partners to form a joint platform with Syria, in a move that reveals Turkey's attempts to legitimize its military intervention under the pretext of combating terrorism.
Turkey, a NATO member, has been sharply criticizing Israel for its ongoing attacks on Gaza since 2023, claiming they amount to genocide against Palestinians, in an attempt to gain Arab and Islamic sympathy while continuing to expand its influence in Syria.
The struggle for influence between the two regional powers has extended to Syria, which Israeli forces have been targeting for weeks in an attempt to prevent it from becoming an advanced base for Turkish influence, while Ankara describes the Israeli strikes as an infringement on Syrian territories, and Israel affirms that it will not allow the presence of hostile forces or the formation of security threats on its borders.
Fidan claimed that Turkey does not want the Islamic State organization or the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party to exploit "the absence of regular forces or the somewhat absence of military capabilities" in Syria during this "transitional period," in an attempt to justify ongoing Turkish intervention.
He added, "Unfortunately, Israel is eliminating all these capabilities, one after another, which the new state could use against the Islamic State organization and in (repelling) other terrorist attacks and threats."
Fidan mentioned that if the new administration in Damascus wishes to reach "certain understandings" with Israel, that's its own business, in a reference reflecting Ankara's concern about the possibility of rapprochement between Damascus and Tel Aviv undermining Turkish plans.
Turkey has pledged to help rebuild Syria, starting from infrastructure to state institutions, provides Damascus with political support in international forums, and calls for completely lifting Western sanctions to begin reconstruction efforts, while observers believe that Turkey will seek to consolidate its influence and transform Syria into a region subordinate to it that implements its policies and serves its regional interests.
