Yesterday it was being reported that Turkey intended to take over the T4 air base in the Syrian city of Tadmur, and that Israel wasn’t happy with that move. Today, that same base is one of several sites being targeted by Israeli warplanes in Syria, and officials are saying the attacks are meant to “convey a message to Turkey.”
The main focus on the attacks appears to be a research center in Barzeh, in the capital city of Damascus, and strikes were also reported in residential areas of the city of Hama. The most eye-opening attacks have to be on the T4 base, given the timing.
Israel’s Channel 12 is reporting that the IDF confirmed to them T4 was under attack in the course of these strikes. There have also been reports of explosions on the outskirts of Tadmur in the vicinity of the base, though again, it’s not being as widely reported as the other strikes, despite the obvious implications.
Damage and casualty figures are still emerging and are not likely to be finalized for hours, but several injuries are already being reported in Barzeh. Israeli sources seem to be considering the Barzeh and Hama attacks as “military infrastructure,” despite some reports that the Hama strikes were in the residential district. Other reports suggest the Hama strikes targeted a different military airport.
Israel has been attacking Syria every few days for months now, and this is the second time in a couple of weeks that it attacked the T4 site. This time Israeli officials are being very open about the fact that they’re launching these new attacks to send a message to Turkey.
Since the regime change in Syria in December, both Turkey and Israel have been looking to carve out spheres of influence there, with Turkey trying to closely ally with the new Islamist government in Syria through promises of reconstruction aid, and Israel outright invading and seizing territory in the southwest.
Those interests conflict with each other, but the most serious issue right now centers on the T4 base. Israel was expressing concern yesterday that Turkey being at the base would limit their freedom of action in continuing to attack anywhere inside Syria that they wish to. It’s not clear that was the thinking of Turkey too, or if it was just part of their general effort to grow influence inside post-Assad Syria.
Both Israel and Turkey have been trading barbs recently over their respective actions inside Syria, but it hasn’t led to anything like direct military conflict. All indications are that Turkey and its air defenses weren’t present at T4 today at the time of the attack, but the strikes are already provocative, and if they continue after Turkey arrives, it could spark a major conflict.
