Turkey Clarifies Position: No Intent to Clash with Israel in Syria, Says FM Fidan

Turkey has no interest in entering into a military confrontation with Israel in Syria, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who spoke to Reuters during the NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels. His remarks come amid escalating regional tensions and increased Israeli airstrikes inside Syrian territory.

Fidan: Syrian Sovereignty Over Dealings with Israel

Addressing concerns about Ankara’s growing role in northern Syria, Fidan stated that Turkey respects Syria’s sovereign decisions, including any potential agreements Damascus might make with Israel.

“If the Syrian government wants to have certain understandings with Israel, that is their own business,” Fidan told Reuters.

Ankara and Damascus Eye T4 Airbase Defense Pact

Ankara has been in negotiations with the Syrian government since December 2024, seeking a defense agreement that would place the Tiyas (T4) Airbase in northern Syria under Turkish control. Turkey plans to deploy air defense systems and fighter jets to the site as part of a broader effort to fill the power vacuum left by the declining presence of Russian and Iranian forces in the region.

Sources confirmed to Middle East Eye (MEE) that the proposed pact includes Turkey providing air cover and security for Syria’s new transitional government, which has limited military capabilities following the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in December.

Israel Concerned About Restricted Airspace Access

While Israel has intensified its aerial operations in Syria, targeting strategic infrastructure and expanding its territorial footprint, it reportedly views Turkey’s military presence as a constraint on its operational freedom.

Omer Ozkizilcik, an analyst at the Atlantic Council's Syria Project, told MEE:

“Israel wants a weak and divided Damascus. It sees a united Syria as a geopolitical risk. Its strategy to exploit ethnic and sectarian divisions—especially among Druze, Kurds, and Alawites—has not succeeded as hoped.”

Ozkizilcik added that Turkey’s air defenses in Syria could limit Israel’s aerial dominance, though he emphasized that Turkey’s focus is not on Israel, but rather on:

• Countering ISIS (Islamic State)

• Deterring Iran-backed threats

• Convincing the U.S. to withdraw troops from Syria

Balancing Power in Syria: Regional Rivalries and Cooperation

Turkey insists that its military involvement in Syria is aimed at restoring stability, encouraging refugee returns, and filling the security void. Fidan also warned that continued Israeli airstrikes risk broader regional destabilization, even though Ankara does not view Tel Aviv as a direct adversary in Syria.

Despite strained relations over the Gaza conflict, both nations have historically maintained military and diplomatic ties, although they are now navigating a more fragmented Middle East power landscape.