"Netanyahu is openly challenging Turkey. As he said, he will not accept a Turkish military presence inside Syria."
Haber Global
Relations between Tel Aviv and Ankara are at breaking point, with Syria having become a battleground between the two countries in recent days.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Amid already very strained relations over Gaza, Syria is adding to the tension, in the wake of Israel’s decision to launch missile strikes against a Syrian military base, on the grounds that it was intended for use by the Turkish military.
Israel warns
Israel clearly states that it will not allow Turkey to deploy forces inside Syria.
“It would be better for Erdogan to continue his delusional rhetoric against Israel —which is completely out of touch with reality—within the Turkish Grand National Assembly, rather than attempt to test Israel’s resolve.”
Israel Katz – Israeli Minister of Defense
This followed a message from Benjamin Netanyahu a few hours earlier, stating that Tel Aviv would raze any infrastructure that Turkey might use inside Syria.
“Our message was very clear: Don’t do it. I suppose they didn’t quite get the message.”
Benjamin Netanyahu – Prime Minister of Israel
Reaction
“Without any justification, without any logic, and in violation of the law, they struck about 70 kilometers from Turkey.”
CNN TURK
Ankara denies that there were any Turkish soldiers at that particular military base and makes it clear that it will continue to stand by Syria’s new government.
“Our efforts and our contribution to protecting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as to achieving a stable and secure structure, will continue with determination.”
Turkish Ministry of Defense
The Syrian Foreign Minister, for his part, maintains that there was no plan to establish a Turkish military base
“The work being carried out in Abu al-Duhur is aimed at restoring the facility for use by the Syrian Air Force.”
Asaad al-Saybani
Despite the tensions, the Syrian foreign minister maintained that Damascus remains open to negotiations with Israel to de-escalate the situation.
Watch the report by Giorgos Chrysanthos:
