Si Al-Shaybani para sa Israel: Walang plano para sa Turkish base sa Abu Al-Dhahab

- Damascus: Turkish military personnel visited the base as part of training and military cooperation.

- Ankara affirms it “will not fall into the trap” set by Netanyahu in Syria.

- Hakabi: Washington is working to establish a “de-escalation process.”

- Channel 12 (Israel): Incidents recorded in international waters between the Turkish and Israeli navies.

Jerusalem, Damascus, Ankara – AFP, Reuters – Amidst escalating verbal hostilities following Israeli airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Syria, Israel accused Turkey of conducting “dangerous adventures in Syria,” while Ankara affirmed that it “will not fall into the trap” laid for it by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Syria.

For his part, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani told Axios on Wednesday that he had clarified to Israel that there are no plans to establish a Turkish military base at Abu al-Duhur.

He added that Turkish military personnel had visited the base in the Idlib province a few days before the Tuesday dawn strike, but emphasized that this was part of ongoing military cooperation in areas such as training and exchange of expertise.

Al-Shaibani stressed that Israel had no legitimate justification for the bombing, reiterating that “there is no intention to establish a Turkish base there, nor to deploy a permanent Turkish military presence or Turkish forces at the site.”

He noted that the facility was largely empty and had not yet been fully operational.

He pointed out that Syria and Israel had made significant progress toward reaching a security agreement during talks mediated by the United States over the course of a year, but Tel Aviv later backtracked on its commitments, and the agreement was not implemented.

Reuters sources reported on Wednesday that the issue of Turkish military deployment in Syria was discussed in a rare phone call between al-Shaibani and Israeli Mossad head Romen Gofman on August 14, just days before the attack.

In Ankara, Presidential Communications Director Burhanuddin Duran stated, “We have enough experience not to fall into the trap of figures like Netanyahu, whose goal is to undermine peace and stability in our region.”

The Ministry of Defense stated that there was no Turkish military delegation at the base before or during the raid, and that Turkey would continue to support Syria’s efforts to develop its military capabilities and infrastructure.

It added, “It is essential for peace and stability in both Syria and the region that Israel cease such reckless attacks and comply with the requirements of international law.” It affirmed, “We will firmly continue our efforts to protect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

In an implicit acknowledgment of carrying out the attack, Netanyahu announced on Wednesday evening that his country had sent a “clear” message to Turkey regarding the necessity of not establishing military bases in Syria.

Writing on the X platform in both Hebrew and Turkish, he stated, “It is better for Erdogan to continue his unrealistic and detached-from-reality speeches against Israel within the Turkish parliament, rather than attempting to test Israel’s resolve to defend itself.”

While Tom Barrack, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria, stated on Tuesday that Washington was working to create a mechanism for de-escalation between Israel, Turkey, and Syria, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Reuters on Wednesday that Washington was working to establish a “de-escalation process.”

When asked whether Washington was concerned that Israeli actions could lead to a confrontation between Israel and Turkey, he said, “I don’t think it has reached that point. And I don’t think we are even close to that.”

He continued, “Israel viewed Turkey’s advance further south as a potential threat. Israel did not take actions that resulted in casualties. Nor did it take actions that resulted in the destruction of key assets.”

Sa kontekstong ito, inihayag ng Israeli Channel 12 sa umaga ng Huwebes na kamakailan ay nangyari ang ilang insidente sa mga karagatang internasyonal sa pagitan ng mga barko ng Turkish Navy na nagsasagawa ng mga ehersisyo malapit sa mga barko ng Israel sa silangang bahagi ng Dagat Mediteraneo. Ayon sa mga pinagkukunan ng seguridad sa Israel, ang mga barkong Turkish ay sinubukang ipakita ang kanilang presensya at lakas, at lumapit sa mga barkong Israeli sa ilang hiwalay na okasyon, ngunit nagtapos ang mga pangyayari nang walang anumang hindi karaniwang insidente. Sinabi ng channel na “Malinaw ang mensahe na naabot: Alam ng mga Turko ang aming presensya doon, at nagpapadala sila ng mga senyales na nagpapakita rin ng kanilang pagiging naroon.” Inilarawan nito ang ginawa ng Turkish Navy bilang isang pagpapakita ng lakas, at nagpapakita ito ng kanilang pagiging naroon at hindi pag-iwas sa presensya ng Israel o sa mga galaw ng mga barkong Israeli sa rehiyon. Ang aktibidad ng Turkey sa dagat ay naging sabay-sabay sa pagpapalakas ng ugnayan ng Ankara at Damascus. Noong nakaraang Hulyo, dumating ang pinuno ng Turkish Navy sa Syria kasama ang isang opisyal na delegasyon ng navy, at nagtipon-tipon sa mga mataas na opisyal ng Syrian Navy. Ang bisitang ito ay nagdulot ng malaking interes sa Israel, na nagpahayag ng kanyang mga alalahanin tungkol sa posibleng pagtatatag ng presensya ng Ankara sa Syrian maritime arena at pagpapalalim ng pakikipagtulungan sa militar. Ayon sa channel, ang presensya ng Turkish Navy, na itinuturing na isang napakahalagang puwersa sa rehiyon, ay maaaring magpalala ng tensyon sa Israel sa Dagat Mediteraneo, at magdagdag ng posibilidad ng mga pagkakaharap at alitan sa dagat.