Syria Denies Plans for Turkish Military Presence at Airbase

Syria's Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, stated that there are no intentions to establish a Turkish military presence at the Abu al-Duhur airbase, which was recently targeted by Israeli airstrikes. In an interview with Axios, al-Shaibani clarified that Turkish military officials had visited the site as part of training and military cooperation, but denied any suggestion of a build-up of Turkish forces in the area.

The airbase, located near Aleppo, was hit by Israeli forces in what was described as a significant attack on Syrian government infrastructure. Reportedly, Israel conducted eight airstrikes on the runway and storage facilities of the base, marking its first assault on Syrian assets since March. No casualties were reported from these strikes, which provoked a wave of international condemnation.

Al-Shaibani expressed that Israel's actions were unjustifiable, asserting that Syria remains open to dialogue concerning de-escalation, although any future agreement must deal with the security concerns of both nations. He emphasised that Israeli military operations only serve to heighten regional destabilisation.

Tensions have been escalating between Israel and Turkey in Syria, as both nations’ military forces operate within its borders. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the situation, asserting that Israel had warned Syria against permitting a Turkish presence at the airbase.

“Our message was very clear. Don’t. I guess they didn’t quite understand the message,” Netanyahu stated.

Following the airstrikes, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of engaging Turkey in perilous activities in Syria. Katz asserted, “Israel will not allow any entity to threaten its security,” urging Erdogan to reconsider his stance towards Israel.

In contrast, the Turkish Defence Ministry categorically rejected Israel’s claims, stating that no military delegation had been present at the airbase during or prior to the attacks. They called for the international community to take decisive and effective actions against Israel, citing that such actions jeopardise peace and stability in the region. Turkey continues to support Syria in enhancing its military capabilities and has positioned itself as a key ally to the Syrian administration.

In the context of this complex military dynamic, Turkey has repeatedly urged for international measures that respect Syria’s territorial integrity. Last year, both Turkey and Israel established a communication line to prevent potential conflicts arising from military engagements in Syria.