Israeli minister: If Turkey establishes military bases in Syria, we will do same

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said Israel would be compelled to establish military bases inside Syria if Turkey proceeds with plans to set up its own military bases on Syrian territory.

Cohen stressed that Tel Aviv would not stand idly by in the face of any Turkish military deployment in neighbouring Syria, asserting that Israel would respond in kind to safeguard its national security and protect its strategic interests in the region.

He further claimed that the areas surrounding the Gaza Strip have effectively become part of Gaza itself, adding that the same applies to Israel's borders with Syria and Lebanon. According to Cohen, Israel is operating in what he described as a new security reality that requires a direct military presence in these areas to protect Israeli settlements.

Cohen also said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to discuss a number of sensitive regional issues during his upcoming visits to Washington, including developments related to Iran and Lebanon, with the disarmament of Hezbollah among the key topics. He argued that Israel's military operations against Iran had made a significant contribution to enhancing global security and regional stability.