Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel would not tolerate a Turkish military presence expanding southwards in Syria, saying it would pose a threat to Israel.

“We will not tolerate Turkish military presence establishing itself as it moves south. It threatens us. We conveyed that clearly,” Netanyahu said.

His comments came after Israel struck Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase on Tuesday, warning that the deployment of Turkish troops there would violate what it described as an agreed security “status quo”.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said there were no plans for a Turkish military base at the site, which he said was being rehabilitated for use by the Syrian Air Force.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel would not tolerate a Turkish military presence expanding southwards in Syria, saying it would pose a threat to Israel. pic.twitter.com/LygVCbelEg

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) August 20, 2026