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Israeli newspaper Haaretz criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his decision to strike targets in Syria, warning that the escalation could drag Israel into a “pointless conflict” with Türkiye.
“While we were wondering whether, ahead of the election, Benjamin Netanyahu would choose to wage war in Gaza or Lebanon, or perhaps ignite the West Bank, he decided to make a move in northern Syria, expanding a front with Türkiye,” the daily said in an editorial Sunday.
Haaretz said Israel’s anti-Türkiye rhetoric in recent months had evolved into Tuesday’s attack on a military airfield in northern Syria.
The paper cited Netanyahu’s claim that the attack allegedly targeted the expansion of the Turkish presence in the region.
Ankara and Washington have denied the Israeli claim and accused Netanyahu of acting for electoral reasons.
On Tuesday, Israeli aircraft carried out eight strikes on the runway of the Abu al-Duhur military airfield in Idlib province, northwestern Syria, damaging its infrastructure.
Following the attack, sources at Türkiye’s Defense Ministry confirmed that there was no Turkish military mission at the Abu al-Duhur airbase, either before or during the Israeli attack.
Haaretz cited the warning of Tom Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Türkiye and special envoy for Syria and Iraq, that the Israeli attack “could have escalated into a direct military confrontation” between Israel and Türkiye.
The paper said Barrack’s remarks hinted that this may have been Israel’s actual objective.
Barrack stressed that Türkiye “has no intention of attacking Israel or of entering into a military confrontation with it,” warning that Israel may be “acting irrationally” because it is in an election period.
Haaretz said the Israeli military action came at a time when international powers are seeking to stabilize Syria, while Israel “is acting in a way that contradicts this logic.”
“Thus, Israel is distancing not just Syria, but all the other players involved there, chiefly the U.S.,” the paper said.
Haaretz called on Israel to formulate a new policy to address the multiple and emerging challenges in the Middle East.
“While Netanyahu was bragging about the pinpointed operation in northern Syria, a dangerous and pointless one, new alliances are being formed under his nose, and Israel is not a part of them,” the paper said.
“One cannot create security and foil threats only by bombing. This is no substitute for diplomacy and a well-thought-out policy, something that in the Netanyahu era has become devoid of any meaning,” it added.
“Israel must listen to the warnings sounded by envoy Barrack and beware of getting entangled with Türkiye.”
Following the attack on the Abu al-Duhur airbase, Syria said in two identical letters addressed to the United Nations (U.N.) and the U.N. Security Council that Israel’s continued attacks, including airstrikes, incursions and abductions, “hinder stabilization efforts and threaten the region with further tensions.”
Israel has expanded its assaults across Syria since the ouster of the Bashar Assad regime in December 2024.
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