Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday not to test Israel's determination to defend itself, accusing the Turkish leader of dragging his country into "dangerous adventures" in Syria.
"Erdogan is dragging Turkey into dangerous adventures in Syria. Israel will not allow any actor to threaten its security. Erdogan would be better off continuing to deliver empty, fantastical speeches against Israel in the Turkish parliament rather than testing Israel's determination to defend itself," Katz wrote on X/Twitter.
Netanyahu: Syria allowed Turkish troops to deploy at airbase
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed late on Wednesday that the Israeli Air Force struck a Syrian airbase in northwestern Syria, arguing that Damascus was "on the verge" of breaching a status quo reached between the two nations.
According to Netanyahu, Syria had allowed Turkish troops to deploy at an airbase near Aleppo, prompting the Israeli airstrike targeting the Abu al-Duhur military airfield in Syria's Idlib province.
"Israel repeatedly warned Syria that such a deployment would pose a threat to Israel's security. Syria chose to ignore these warnings," the prime minister's post read. "Israel will not tolerate threats to its security, and would welcome a return to the status quo."
A source familiar with the details also told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday that Israel recently provided the US with intelligence on attempts by Syria to build up its military capabilities.
The strikes drew condemnations across the Arab world, as well as from American envoy to the area, Tom Barrack.