Israeli official says Israel doesn’t seek conflict with Türkiye in Syria amid tensions

A senior Israeli official stated on Friday that Israel does not seek conflict with Türkiye in Syria, following heightened tensions between the two countries and Israeli airstrikes on military sites in Syria, according to a Reuters report.

“We’re not looking for a conflict with Turkey and we hope that Turkey isn’t looking for a conflict with us,” the official told reporters, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

However, the official added, “But we also do not want to see Turkish entrenchment on our border and there are all kinds of ways to handle this.”

Tensions between Israel and Türkiye escalated this week after a series of Israeli airstrikes in Syria, including a recent strike on the Tiyas (T-4) airbase, where Türkiye is reportedly planning to establish a military facility. According to Israeli media outlet Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel aims to maintain air superiority in Syria amid what it views as a growing Turkish-backed presence.

Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes Wednesday, targeting several sites in Syria’s capital, Damascus, and the western provinces of Hama and Homs. Additionally, the Israeli army conducted a ground offensive in Daraa in southern Syria, where local authorities reported at least nine people were killed.

Since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December, Israel has expanded its occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights by seizing the demilitarized buffer zone, a move that violated the 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria. Reports indicate that since the regime’s fall, Israel has launched hundreds of strikes targeting military sites and assets across Syria, including fighter jets, missile systems, and air defense installations.

‘Türkiye does not want a direct conflict with Israel in Syria’

Türkiye condemned Israel’s recent actions, with Foreign Ministry stating, “These simultaneous attacks demonstrate a foreign policy approach that thrives on conflict.”

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has emphasized Friday that Türkiye does not seek direct conflict with Israel in Syria, warning that Israel’s actions could lead to long-term instability.

Newsweek's April 4 cover features Erdogan vs Netanyahu, suggesting potential Türkiye-Israel conflict in Syria amid Israel's unprovoked and unjustified attacks on multiple Syrian cities pic.twitter.com/lQqHL6iE6V

— Türkiye Today (@turkiyetodaycom) April 4, 2025

Speaking to Reuters during the NATO foreign ministers’ summit in Brussels, Fidan stated that Israel’s recent moves in Syria risk triggering future unrest.

Despite this, the April 4 cover of American weekly magazine Newsweek featured a faceoff between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting a potential Türkiye-Israel conflict in Syria amid Israel’s unprovoked and unjustified attacks on multiple Syrian cities.