Multiple Israeli airstrikes targeted several military installations across Syria on Tuesday, including facilities in Damascus, according to reports from Syrian state media outlet SANA. The attacks included strikes on a scientific research facility in the Barzeh district of Damascus, an area previously targeted due to suspected chemical weapons development activities under the Assad regime.
The series of coordinated strikes also impacted a military airport in Hama and the T4 airbase located in Syria’s central Homs province. While initial reports indicated no casualties, sources described the assault as particularly intense, with the Hama air base receiving five separate strikes within a 30-minute period on Wednesday evening.
These attacks come at a significant moment as Turkey reportedly considers establishing a military presence at the T4 airbase. According to Middle East Eye, Turkish authorities have begun preparations to assume control of the facility near Palmyra, with plans to install Hisar air defense systems and deploy various drone capabilities, including surveillance and armed unmanned aerial vehicles.
The timing of Israel’s operations appears to signal growing concerns over Turkey’s increasing influence in Syria, particularly following the December 8 removal of Bashar al-Assad. Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes against Syrian military targets, weapons storage facilities, and suspected chemical weapons sites since Assad’s ouster.
The strikes represent a clear message to Turkey, whose strengthening ties with the new Jolani administration have raised alarm in Tel Aviv. Turkey’s potential deployment at T4 would provide crucial air defense capabilities to Syria’s new government, which currently lacks significant air protection resources.
Israel’s actions demonstrate its determination to maintain aerial superiority over Syrian territory, as Turkish military presence at T4 could potentially challenge Israel’s freedom of operation in Syrian airspace. The situation highlights shifting regional dynamics, with Turkey emerging as an increasingly significant concern for Israeli strategic interests in Syria, alongside traditional adversaries like Iran.
The relationship between Turkey and Syria’s new leadership,
particularly its connections to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militants, has heightened Israeli security concerns. The strikes appear designed to prevent Turkey from establishing a permanent military foothold at T4, which could alter the balance of power in Syrian airspace.
Turkey’s planned expansion at T4 would include significant
infrastructure development and the installation of advanced
surveillance and combat capabilities. The proposed Turkish presence would mark a substantial shift in regional military positioning, potentially limiting Israel’s ability to conduct operations freely in Syrian territory.
These developments signal an evolving security landscape in Syria, where Israel now faces the prospect of dealing with Turkish military capabilities in addition to its ongoing concerns about Iranian influence. The airstrikes reflect Israel’s proactive approach to maintaining its strategic advantages in the region and preventing the establishment of new military challenges to its operations in Syrian airspace.
The situation represents a complex realignment of regional powers following Assad’s departure, with Israel taking decisive action to prevent Turkey from establishing military infrastructure that could impede its future operations. As Turkey seeks to expand its influence in Syria through military presence and support for the new government, Israel’s response indicates its determination to preserve its operational freedom and strategic interests in the region.