Israeli FM Gideon Saar accuses Türkiye of playing a negative role in Syria, Lebanon
Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar listens to his counterpart from Portugal Paulo Rangel (not pictured) during a joint press conference in Jerusalem on February 10, 2025. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Türkiye of wanting to turn Syria into a Turkish protectorate and of playing a negative role in both Syria and Lebanon.
‘The Turkish role is not limited to Syria and they play a negative role in Lebanon,” he said.
Saar’s statement came after intense Israeli airstrikes and military incursion in multiple cities in Syria leading to civilian casualities.
Intense Israeli airstrikes in multiple locations in Syria
Israeli fighter jets had carried out airstrikes late Wednesday on the Syrian cities of Damascus and Hama, the country’s official SANA news agency reported.
“An Israeli occupation airstrike targeted the vicinity of the building of the scientific research center in the Barzeh residential district of Damascus,” it said.
In a separate attack, airstrikes targeted the city of Hama.
Hama governorate’s Telegram channel reported that Israeli occupation warplanes targeted Hama Military Airport and its surroundings with more than 15 airstrikes.
The statement noted that the damage was limited to material losses.
The Israeli army said in a statement that in recent hours, it carried out airstrikes targeting “remaining military capabilities in the areas of Hama and T4 (Tiyas Airbase in Homs, central Syria), as well as several remaining military infrastructures in the Damascus area.”
Israel’s military incursion into Daraa
The Syrian local authorities of the Daraa Governorate on Thursday said the initial death toll from the Israeli incursion and strikes in southern Syria reached nine, along with several injuries.
In a statement, the Daraa Governorate said the Israeli shelling took place in the Jabaliyeh Dam forest near the city of Nawa, western Daraa.
The statement noted that this was the first time the Israeli troops reached deep into the area amid widespread outrage and mass protests across the region.
The Israeli army late Wednesday made an incursion near the city of Nawa in western Daraa Governorate, southern Syria, local media reported.
“The Israeli occupation army advanced with several military vehicles into the wooded area near the Jabaliyeh Dam, close to the city of Nawa in western Daraa, coinciding with reconnaissance aircraft activity in the area,” the Daraa governorate said on Telegram.
Earlier, the Israeli fighter jets carried out at least 11 airstrikes on the Syrian cities of Damascus and Hama, the Syrian news agency SANA reported.
Israeli defense minister warns Syrian president
Seperately, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Thursday warned Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa that he would face severe consequences if Israel’s security was threatened.
“I warn Syrian leader Jolani (Sharaa): If you allow hostile forces to enter Syria and threaten Israeli security interests, you will pay a heavy price,” Katz said in a statement.
