A new warning from an Israeli security official raises serious concerns about emerging threats on Israel’s northern front. According to a high-level source, Turkey’s reported plans to establish a military base in Syria pose a “potential threat” to Israel’s freedom of action—particularly as the country continues to dismantle remnants of Iran’s terror network in the post-Assad era.
Turkey’s Growing Influence in Post-Assad Syria
The concern follows deepening ties between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ahmed al-Sharaa—better known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani—the former al-Qaeda-linked leader of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), who has recently installed himself as the interim president of Syria after the collapse of the Assad regime. While Julani has publicly attempted to rebrand himself as a political leader, Israeli intelligence officials remain skeptical.
“Julani is a classic Islamist with unchanged long-term goals—he remains our enemy,” the Israeli official emphasized.
Turkey’s Strategic Ambitions—and the Risk to Israel
The proposed Turkish military presence in Syria would not be the first time Erdoğan has extended Turkish influence into a neighboring country under the pretext of regional stability. But for Israel, the implications are far more serious.
With Iranian influence in Syria severely crippled thanks to Israel’s successful campaigns during the Iron Swords War and Operation Days of Repentance, Jerusalem is wary of any new power—particularly one with Islamist leanings—trying to fill the vacuum.
The official warning came just days after Israel launched a precision airstrike on Syria’s T4 airbase, a clear signal to both Turkey and Julani that Israel will not tolerate attempts to interfere with its operational freedom in the region.
A Red Line for Israel
Israel has made it clear that any foreign force—especially one aligned with Islamist ideology or hostile regimes—attempting to assert control in Syria will be viewed as a direct challenge to its national security. After years of fighting off Iranian proxies, including Hezbollah, IRGC militias, and Hamas, Israel is not about to let a new adversary emerge unchecked.
The Turkish government’s growing relationship with Julani, once considered a jihadist warlord, is deeply troubling. While some international actors have entertained the possibility of normalizing HTS under Julani’s leadership, Israel views this as a dangerous gamble with potentially deadly consequences.
In a region still scarred by the horrors of the October 7 massacre, and ongoing rocket and drone threats from Iran-backed groups like the Houthis, Israel’s warning is clear: it will not allow any new terror-supporting regimes—whether Iranian or Turkish-backed—to threaten its borders or sovereignty.
As the Middle East reshapes itself in the aftermath of Assad’s fall and Iran’s setbacks, Israel will continue to assert its right to self-defense. Any nation considering interference in Syria’s future should understand: Israeli red lines are non-negotiable.
