Erdogan will not give up control of Syria: the challenge Turkey poses to Israel

Israel attacked a military airfield in Syria in an attempt to curb the consolidation of Turkish presence, but Ankara has become a key player in Damascus. Turkey has conducted operations in northern Syria, advanced ties with the al-Sharaa government, and discussed establishing a joint base. The correspondent asks whether Israeli strategy should change.

Israel attacked a military airfield in Syria this week, a move that raises questions about its ability to curb the expansion of Turkish influence. According to Arab reports, a Turkish delegation discussed establishing a joint base for Turkish and Syrian forces at the airfield, as part of cooperation to rebuild the Syrian air force. Over the past decade, Turkey has conducted operations in northern Syria, and since the collapse of the Assad regime, it has become the patron of Ahmed al-Sharaa's government. Turkish interests include pushing the Kurds eastward, a land trade bridge that bypasses Israel, and a solution for Syrian refugees. The attack drew condemnation, including from the US, and American envoy Tom Barak accused Israel of "unnecessary escalation." The correspondent argues that the web of Turkish interests makes it difficult to curb through attacks, and that Israel will need to reexamine its strategy toward the new Syria.