Turkey’s presidency responded Thursday to escalating tensions with Israel, stating that Ankara will not fall into a “trap” set by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Syria—this after Israel struck a military airbase in the country’s northwest.
1+According to the statement, Turkey “will continue resolutely to defend Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and achieve a stable and secure structure,” and that “attacks violating Damascus’s sovereignty cannot be accepted.” Fahrettin Altun, Turkey’s presidential communications director, said Ankara has enough experience not to fall into “the trap of figures like Netanyahu,” who he said are working to undermine peace and stability in the region. The remarks come following Israel’s strike on the Abu al-Duhur military airbase in northwestern Syria, amid Israeli claims of Turkish military entrenchment at the site. Ankara rejects the claims and clarifies that there was no Turkish military delegation at the site during or before the strike.
1+Turkey’s Defense Ministry said Israel must stop its “reckless” attacks in Syria and comply with international law for the sake of peace in the country and the region. The ministry emphasized that Turkey will continue to work to protect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.