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Sources from Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defense rejected claims that Israel targeted positions of the Turkish Armed Forces in Syria. Officials said, “Reports and allegations that Israel targeted Turkish Armed Forces assets in Syria are baseless and do not reflect reality. There is no negative impact on our units, personnel, or equipment deployed in Syria.”
The claims that Israel is targeting Turkish Armed Forces' assets in Syria are unfounded and do not reflect the truth, Turkish National Defense Ministry sources said Thursday.
During the weekly press briefing, the Defense Ministry's Press and Public Relations Advisor Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk provided updates on recent operations. He said Turkish missions in cross-border regions destroyed numerous weapons, ammunition, and other materials found in terrorist caves, shelters, and hideouts. Tunnel demolition efforts in Syria have reached a total of 593 kilometers—236 kilometers in Tel Rifaat and 357 kilometers in Manbij.
Akturk also reported on Türkiye’s border security measures. He said 303 individuals attempting illegal crossings—including two affiliated with terrorist groups—were apprehended, while 726 others were prevented from crossing.
Since Jan. 1, around 6,137 people have been caught attempting illegal crossings, and 49,444 were stopped. Authorities also seized 30 kilograms of narcotics during searches along the Van and Hakkari borders.
Akturk emphasized that Türkiye has started military training and advisory operations to strengthen Syria’s defense capacity and counterterrorism effectiveness. He stressed that terrorist organizations exploiting regional instability will not be allowed to threaten Syria’s territorial integrity, Türkiye’s security, or regional stability.
Regarding recent Israeli actions, Akturk said, “Israel continues to target civilians in Gaza. Attacking homes, tents, and shelters demonstrates the scale of human tragedy. Israel’s recent attack on Qatar adds to a pattern of lawless aggression. These acts show that Israel has institutionalized terrorism, seeks to deepen instability, thrives on conflict, and opposes peace.”
The Defense Ministry underscored Türkiye’s support for Qatar and urged the international community to prevent further reckless attacks.
On Tuesday, Israel's military said it conducted a "precise strike targeting the senior leadership" of the Palestinian group Hamas in the Qatari capital Doha.
The strike has drawn a wave of condemnations, calling the attack a blatant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and international law.
Defense Ministry sources also cautioned against misinformation and social media disinformation campaigns. They emphasized that recent claims regarding Israeli attacks on the Turkish Armed Forces in Syria are false and advised relying only on official sources.
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