TNA Staff
The New Arab / August 23, 2026
Israel says secret channels with Turkey remain open despite striking Syria over alleged plans by Ankara to deploy air defence systems there
An Israeli security official has said Israel has “no intention of turning Turkey into an enemy” despite striking a Syrian airbase over alleged plans by Ankara to deploy radar and air defence systems there.
The official told Israel’s Kan Reshet Bet radio on Sunday that “secret channels” remained open between Israel and Turkey to exchange messages and prevent direct conflict, amid heightened tensions following the Israeli attack on Abu al-Duhur military airport in northern Syria.
However, the official warned that “when messages do not work, Israel is forced to act”.
According to Kan, Israel has drawn “red lines” around any Turkish military reinforcement in Syria, particularly the deployment of air defence systems, drones or missiles that could restrict the Israeli air force’s ability to operate over the country.
Israeli aircraft struck buildings and runways at Abu al-Duhur airport in eastern Idlib province last week “before the Turkish military equipment reached its destination”, Kan reported.
The broadcaster said Israel had sought to send a message to Damascus that it “will not allow a new threat to be established near its borders”, while stressing that Israel does not oppose the rebuilding of the Syrian army itself.
Turkey denied that it had any military presence at the airbase at the time of the attack.
“There was no Turkish military mission at the Syrian air force base before or during the Israeli attacks,” Ankara said in a statement following the strike.
Kan reported on Saturday that Israeli security officials had informed the US that Turkey was preparing to install radar equipment at Abu al-Duhur, with plans for Turkish-operated air defence systems to follow.
Israeli officials claimed such a deployment could alter the regional balance of power by limiting Israel’s ability to carry out air operations over Syria.
Abu al-Duhur lies around 70 kilometres from the Turkish border.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Saturday that the military had repeatedly recommended striking the base after receiving what he described as “clear intelligence” about Turkey’s plans.
“The army recommended several times carrying out the strike at Abu al-Duhur airport, in light of clear intelligence obtained regarding Turkey’s intention to undertake activities there that would endanger the security of the State of Israel,” Katz said.
Katz said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior security officials had agreed to warn Damascus before authorising the attack.
“It was agreed that before approval was granted, a direct warning would be sent to the Syrian regime at the highest levels, in an attempt to prevent this move, and that is indeed what happened,” he said.
He added that the intelligence had also been shared with Washington.
According to Katz, Damascus failed to act on the warning, prompting Israel to approve the strike.
“Erdogan was caught with his hand in the cookie jar and was forced to back down,” Katz said, referring to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Israeli officials quoted by Ynet said Ankara had been preparing to install radar at the base before deploying air defence systems and a Turkish commando unit to operate them.
The officials said Israel believes Turkey could attempt a similar deployment elsewhere in Syria in the future.
They also claimed that Turkish-operated air defences in Syria could make any future Israeli strike on Iran more difficult by restricting Israeli aircraft operating in Syrian airspace.
Under international law, Israel has no general right to strike Syrian territory or dictate Damascus’s foreign and security relationships. Syria’s decision to establish military or political ties with Turkey is a matter of its sovereignty and self-determination, subject to its own international obligations.
The attack comes amid renewed tensions between Israel and Syria despite recent efforts to reach a security arrangement between the two countries.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said last month that Damascus wanted an agreement with Israel that could “pave the way for a comprehensive peace”, while insisting Syria would not abandon its claim to the occupied Golan Heights, which is considered illegally occupied and annexed under international law.
Israel also carried out another strike in Syria on Saturday, targeting a vehicle in the town of Beit Jinn in the Damascus countryside.
The Israeli military said it had fired on a person who posed “an immediate threat” to its forces and threatened further attacks against perceived threats.
Reserve Israeli officer Eyal Dror told Ynet that recent developments suggested relations with Syria were moving away from stability.
“In the absence of an attempt to reach some kind of arrangement or settlement, we may see these events with greater frequency,” Dror said.
