Turkey Denounces Israel's Claims Amid Escalating Tensions Over Syrian Airstrikes
By Editor • August 19, 2026 • 1 min read
In a sharp response to Israel’s recent airstrikes, Turkey has dismissed claims made by Israeli officials regarding its military presence in Syria as "untenable." The remarks came after Israel targeted the Abu al-Duhur airbase near Aleppo on August 18, 2026, asserting that Syria was close to allowing Turkish troops to deploy there.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office expressed concerns that such a deployment would threaten Israel's security, claiming it would violate an existing status quo. Turkey, however, countered that these allegations stem from Netanyahu's agenda of pursuing "expansionist and destabilising policies" as he approaches elections.
In its statement, Turkey emphasized that the accusations were attempts to justify unlawful airstrikes against Syria's sovereignty and called for Israel to adhere to international law. It reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Syrian government to foster peace and stability in the region.
The airstrikes have intensified the already strained relations between Turkey and Israel, both of which have military interests in the ongoing Syrian conflict. Turkey, a key ally of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has been actively involved in training Syrian forces and supporting the reconstruction of the nation's institutions.
U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, highlighted that Washington is seeking to establish a deconfliction mechanism among Israel, Turkey, and Syria to mitigate tensions following the recent escalation.
Source: www.thehindu.com
