Israeli official warns against Turkish presence near border

An Israeli senior official stated on Friday that Israel is not seeking a confrontation with Turkey in Syria, amid rising tensions between the two countries following recent Israeli airstrikes on military targets in Syria.

4 April, 2025 21:02

NEWS DESK

“We are not looking for conflict with Turkey, and we hope Turkey is not seeking conflict with us,” the official told reporters, according to Reuters. “However, we also do not want to see Turkey establishing a foothold on our border. All options remain on the table to address this matter.”

The remarks come after Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized earlier on Friday that Turkey is not aiming for any confrontation with Israel in Syria. His comments follow repeated Israeli strikes that, according to Turkey, have undermined the deterrent capabilities of Syria’s new government.

Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, Fidan said Israel’s actions in Syria are paving the way for potential regional instability in the future.

He also noted that “if the new leadership in Damascus seeks certain understandings with Israel, that is a matter for them to decide.”

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ANHA