Video snippet from the fire left after IAF missiles hit Hama Airfield - the runway was believed to have been destroyed (Source: @Fundji3/X - Telegram)
The Hama Airfield in Syria was struck by the IDF overnight (video snippet)

Israel Hits Syria Airbase, Warning Turkey Against Military Expansion

Details
The Judean Staff
National

In a fiery address that reverberated through diplomatic circles, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Thursday accused Turkey of pursuing an aggressive, destabilizing campaign in the Middle East—one aimed at resurrecting its imperial influence over parts of Syria, Lebanon, and beyond.

“Turkey is systematically working to transform Syria into a de facto Turkish protectorate. It is no longer a theory—it is their strategy,” Sa’ar declared at a press conference in Paris, warning that Ankara’s escalating military posture poses a grave threat to the regional balance of power.Erdoğan’s Imperial Dream: A Modern Caliphate Rising?

Sa’ar’s sharp remarks are only the latest in a chorus of Israeli concerns over Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s increasingly overt ambition to reestablish Turkish dominance in the region, reminiscent of the days of the Ottoman Empire.

For over a decade, geopolitical analysts and intelligence officials have warned that Erdoğan seeks to revive an Islamic Caliphate, using Turkish military might, political influence, and Islamist proxies to encircle Israel and reshape the Levant. His endgame? Reintegration of historic territories under the Turkish flag—including, disturbingly, Jerusalem.

The early stages of the Israel–Hamas war saw Turkish lawmakers posting veiled threats about reclaiming Jerusalem. Since then, Erdoğan has dropped the façade entirely. In a chilling Eid al-Fitr address, he called for the eradication of “Zionists” and the elimination of the Jewish state—words that drew comparisons to genocidal rhetoric from the darkest chapters of history.

Israel Responds: Military Leadership Meets Amid Turkish Advance in Syria

Back in Israel, a high-level security meeting convened this week to address the growing Turkish footprint in northern Syria. Attendees included Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, and top intelligence brass. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was notably absent, attending diplomatic meetings in Hungary.

According to Israeli defense officials, Turkey is not acting alone. Intelligence reports suggest cooperation between Ankara and remnants of the Assad regime, raising fears that Turkey seeks to establish permanent military installations—including drone bases and air defense systems—in strategic Syrian territories.

“This is a strategic threat to Israel’s freedom of operation,” warned Defense Minister Gallant. “Any significant shift in the status quo will be met with a decisive and forceful response.”T4 Airbase: A New Flashpoint Between Jerusalem and Ankara

On Wednesday, the Israeli Air Force conducted precision strikes on Syrian military infrastructure, targeting facilities in Hama, the Damascus area, and most notably, the T4 airbase—a site Western intelligence claims Turkey intends to convert into a drone command hub.

The T4 base is rumored to be under consideration for hosting S-400 air defense systems, which would not only defend Turkish assets but potentially lock Israel out of key air corridors used in its campaign against Iranian entrenchment in Syria.

“A Turkish airbase in Palmyra or T4 would dramatically escalate tensions,” said a senior IDF official speaking to The War Zone. “We cannot allow hostile powers to create anti-access zones on our borders.”

Satellite Imagery Confirms Damage to Turkish Aspirations

Recent satellite images confirm that Israeli strikes left two massive craters on T4’s main runway and severed the primary taxiway into three segments, rendering it virtually inoperable for heavy-lift aircraft. Damage assessments are ongoing, but defense analysts believe the attack has severely delayed Turkish plans.

Geopolitical Chessboard: Turkey, HTS, and the Post-Assad Landscape

The power vacuum left after Bashar al-Assad’s fall in December has triggered a scramble among regional powers. Turkey, backing the Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), seeks to dominate northern Syria and forge an alliance with Damascus’ new transitional government.

Israel, in contrast, is maneuvering to ensure its air superiority remains uncontested. Turkish deployments of radar systems or surface-to-air missiles could force Israeli jets to reroute or risk confrontation—an unacceptable compromise to national security.

“Strategic Red Line” Approaching: Israel Won’t Allow Turkish Militarization on Its Doorstep

While Israeli officials remain clear-eyed about the dangers of a direct military confrontation with NATO-member Turkey, sources confirm that preemptive strikes and covert operations will remain on the table to ensure Jerusalem’s deterrence is never questioned.

“We will not allow Turkey—or any power—to set up shop in Syria in a way that threatens Israeli citizens,” the IDF stated following the latest strike. “Our red lines are firm, and our resolve is unshakable.”

A Storm Brews in the North

The growing hostility between Israel and Turkey marks a dramatic shift in Middle Eastern dynamics. As Erdoğan edges closer to a neo-Ottoman reality, and Israel doubles down on its right to defend its skies and borders, the region inches toward a new and dangerous confrontation.

What was once cautious rivalry has now become a looming showdown. The question is no longer if—but when—Israel and Turkey will collide over the skies of Syria.

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