The Next Century Foundation discusses the rising tensions between Türkiye and Israel, focusing on Israel’s expanded military operations in Syria and the strike on the Turkish T-4 airbase in Homs. This article also covers the U.S. President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate between Erdoğan and Netanyahu, as well as the silent yet significant talks currently taking place in Azerbaijan
Türkiye-Israel relations, though historically grounded in diplomatic cooperation, have sharply deteriorated following Israel’s intensified military campaigns in Palestine. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a long-standing and vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, condemned the attacks as “genocide,” even comparing Prime Minister Netanyahu’s actions to those of Adolf Hitler. In response, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar accused Erdoğan of dictatorship and antisemitism, deepening the diplomatic rift.
Recent exchanges since the October 7 attacks mark one of the most intense confrontations since Erdoğan’s infamous “one minute” rebuke of Israel’s Former Prime Minister Shimon Peres at the 2009 World Economic Forum in Davos, and the Mavi Marmara Incident in 2010.
Israel Attacks on Tiyas Airbase (T-4)
While the world’s attention remains focused on Gaza, a new flashpoint has emerged across the fractured landscape of Syria. Following the collapse of the al Assad government, Israel has begun expanding its military operations beyond the occupied Golan Heights, pushing deeper into Syrian territory. Though Israel cites multiple justifications for these operations, some argued arguably security-driven, others strategically aggressive, one of the most concerning developments was Israel’s strike on the Tiyas (T-4) airbase in Homs.
Israel has stated the air base was actively used by Iran to “transfer weapons, including to Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah.”
The Turkish military was preparing to take the Tiyas (T-4) airbase under operational control, with the transfer scheduled just one day after the Israeli strike. The strike, therefore, is not only a message to Iran and the new Syrian Government, but a bold move signaling Israel’s willingness to challenge Turkish presence in the region.
This comes amid reports of a broader agreement being shaped between Ankara and elements of Syria’s interim leadership. Under this pact, Turkey would provide air cover and security coordination to a Syrian government that no longer possesses a cohesive national military force. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addressed the escalating situation, clarifying that “Turkey has no intention of engaging in conflict with any country in Syria, not just Israel,” while also condemning Israel’s expansionist ambitions as “unacceptable”.
President Trump Urges Israel to Be “Reasonable”
On Monday, April 8, President Donald Trump hosted Prime Minister Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, D.C. During their meeting, Trump emphasized his good relations with President Erdoğan and offered to mediate between the two leaders, as both governments are seeking influence in Syria.
President Trump congratulated Erdoğan for taking control of Syria, especially as “nobody’s been able to do in 2,000 years.”
PM Netanyahu said, “We’ve had neighbourly relations with Turkey that have deteriorated, and we don’t want to see Syria being used by anyone, including Turkey, as a base for attack in Israel.” He remarked that they explored various ways to prevent the conflict, noting that there is no better mediator for this than the President of the United States.
Azerbaijan Hosts Deconfliction Talks
Following the U.S.-Israel talks, on April 9, military delegations from Israel and Türkiye held their first technical meeting in Azerbaijan, as revealed by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during a recent televised interview.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev highlighted his country’s role in easing tensions between Israel and Turkey. Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Israel, Mukhtar Mammadov, said that “Azerbaijan is very close to Turkey and a friend of Israel. We want to see relations between you develop positively, and we are ready to support that.”
Following instructions from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a diplomatic-security delegation headed by National Security Council Director Tzachi Hanegbi, along with senior officials from the Defence Ministry and security services, met with a corresponding Turkish delegation.
While the discussions remain unresolved, further rounds are expected to take place after Easter.
Image Credit: Haim Zach, Government Press Office of Israel, “Isaac Herzog state visit to Turkey, March 2022 (GPOHA1 0985).” Wikimedia Commons.
