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Israeli forces allegedly dismantled "Turkish surveillance devices" during a recent airlift in rural Damascus in Syria, recovering equipment that had been embedded in the country for over a decade, an Israeli official told Al Arabiya on Thursday.
The official claimed that Israeli troops tracked and located the devices during raids at a countryside base near Damascus, describing the operation as "crucial for Israel's security," according to a report.
Israeli forces reportedly recovered what the official characterized as "sensitive and dangerous equipment" that had allegedly been positioned in Syrian sites for more than 10 years.
The official claimed that Israeli troops had tracked those who transported the equipment and located its hiding places before recovering it.
The Israeli military also claims to dismantle what the Israeli official described as "Turkish devices" allegedly planted recently in the area for espionage purposes.
"We warned the Sharaa administration against playing with fire and following Türkiye's orders," the Israeli official stated, referring to Syria's current government.
The official delivered a direct message to Syrian authorities, stating that "Türkiye is trying to get closer to Israel more than it should."
He concluded by noting that Tel Aviv has warned the new Syrian administration "not to test its patience or challenge the limits of its operations."
The disclosure comes after members of Syria's new army discovered surveillance and eavesdropping devices near Jabal al-Manae, south of Damascus, on Tuesday.
As Syrian soldiers attempted to handle the equipment, an Israeli airstrike struck the site, killing several soldiers and injuring others while destroying vehicles, according to the SANA news agency.
Israeli air and drone strikes continued in the area until Wednesday evening, preventing access to the site where the surveillance equipment was found.
The Wednesday airlift operation in rural Damascus was described by the Israeli official as essential for maintaining Israel's security interests in the region.
It is worth noting that Türkiye declared earlier this week that Syria's stability is "directly connected" to Turkish national security, with defense officials pledging full support for the Syrian government's efforts to maintain its territorial integrity.
"Syria's stability is directly connected to Türkiye's security, and every step taken in this direction contributes to regional peace," Turkish Defense Ministry sources stated during a weekly press briefing in Ankara.
Türkiye continues its military training and advisory activities in Syria under a Joint Training and Advisory Memorandum signed between the two countries on Aug. 13.
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