Turkish, Israeli Fighters Engage in Tense Standoff Over Syria

A series of Israeli airstrikes in Syria targeting sites near Damascus and Hama led to a tense aerial encounter between Turkish and Israeli fighter jets, highlighting escalating regional tensions in the aftermath of the Assad regime's fall. Turkish F-16s reportedly entered or approached Syrian airspace, using electronic warfare and issuing warning signals to Israeli aircraft, but both sides avoided direct confrontation. Turkey criticized Israel's actions as destabilizing and has called for an end to the strikes, viewing them as a threat to regional stability and its own interests, while Israeli leaders framed their operations as warnings to prevent threats in southern Damascus and to the Druze minority. The incident underscores both nations' efforts to assert influence in post-Assad Syria, with Turkey seeking permanent military positions and negotiating defense agreements with the new Syrian leadership, and Israel aiming to curb both extremist groups and Turkish expansion. Recent Israeli strikes have also targeted airbases of interest to Turkey, further fueling tensions. Analysts note that these encounters increase the risk of miscalculation between two major regional powers.