Turkey, Israel on collision course in Syria over incursions, Kurdish support
Ankara is concerned that Israel may seek to solidify its territorial gains in Syria, leveraging regional instability and pro-Israel US policies.
ANKARA — Amid heightened tensions between Israel and Turkey over the Gaza Strip, Syria risks becoming a new flashpoint for the two Mediterranean nations due to conflicting interests and diverging positions.
Key points of contention include Israel's incursion in southern Syria and its support for Syrian Kurdish groups, which Ankara views as a top national security threat.
Turkey's primary concern is Israel's activities in southern Syria following the Syrian regime's collapse on Dec. 8. Ankara fears Israel may seek to solidify its territorial gains during Donald Trump's second presidency.
Since the regime's fall, Israeli forces have advanced 30 kilometers (18 miles) south of Damascus, occupying the demilitarized buffer zone between Israel and Syria and the strategic Mount Hermon outpost, as reported by Al-Monitor earlier this week. Israel also announced plans to double settlements in the Golan Heights.
