Israel Craters Runway To Keep Turkey From Taking Over Syrian Airfield

https://www.twz.com/air/israel-craters-runway-to-keep-turkey-from-taking-over-syrian-airfield

Posted by SolRon25

2 comments

  1. SS: The Israeli Air Force carried out more strikes on Syrian air bases on Wednesday, including on an airfield in central Syria that Turkey may take over. The attacks will make it harder for Ankara to deliver troops, air defenses and other equipment and to operate the facilities in general, should it attempt to do so. We recently reported on growing tensions between Turkey and Israel over Syria and on the former’s potential plans to setup shop at T4 airfield, which could become very problematic for Israeli air operations over the country.

    “The establishment of a Turkish Air Force base in Palmyra, Syria, could heighten regional tensions and increase the risk of conflict with Israel,” a senior IDF official told The War Zone last week. “Given Israel’s ongoing efforts to prevent hostile military entrenchment in Syria, any significant Turkish military presence, especially in strategic locations like Palmyra, could be perceived as a threat to Israeli security interests.”

    The growing friction between Israel and Turkey is taking place as both sides are seeking to satisfy their own territorial ambitions in the wake of the fall of long-time dictator Bashar Al Assad in December. The new government established by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which led anti-Assad forces with a great deal of support from Turkey, has yet to gain full control over the country. In that vacuum, Jerusalem and Ankara have been seeking to expand their spheres of influence there. For Israel, it’s more about being able to operate its combat aircraft freely over the country. If Turkey sets up advanced air defenses, ones that could act on behalf of the sitting government, it would greatly complicate Israeli access to the airspace. It could also result in a sudden escalation between Turkey and Israel, which are taking increasingly hostile positions toward each other.

    The strikes were seen as a “message” to Ankara, according to the Jerusalem Post.

  2. Israel is attempting to impose a victors mandate on the entire region and this will not end well. 

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