▲ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the airstrikes on an airbase in northern Syria were the result of Turkey ignoring warnings, adding that Israel will not tolerate a military buildup by Turkey in Syria.
In a podcast interview on the 19th local time, Prime Minister Netanyahu said that the previous day's strike on the airbase near Idlib in northern Syria was the consequence of Turkey ignoring warnings cautioning against building up its military forces inside Syria.
He said, "We delivered a message, but apparently they didn't hear it. So we took action to ensure they understand this message more clearly."
Prime Minister Netanyahu went on to warn, "We will not tolerate Turkey's military buildup moving southward and threatening us."
He also repeated a warning in English to Turkey, which is conducting military operations inside Syria, saying, "Don't."
Netanyahu's government in Israel has been extremely wary of Turkey, with which it has been at odds, expanding its military power in neighboring Syria.
It is presumed that the previous day's airstrike by the Israeli military on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Idlib province, located 185 miles (approx. 297 km) from the Syrian border, was carried out against this backdrop.
Meanwhile, regarding Prime Minister Netanyahu's remarks that Iran warned against Turkey's military buildup in Syria, Reuters reported that a phone call took place on the 14th between the head of Israel's foreign intelligence agency Mossad and the Syrian foreign minister.
Three sources familiar with the matter stated that Roman Gofman, the new head of Mossad, discussed the issue of Turkey's military presence in Syria during a phone call on the 14th with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani.
According to the sources, the phone call took place four days before Israel's airstrike on the Syrian airbase.
This contact is considered one of the highest-level communications between Israel and the new Syrian government since the collapse of the former authoritarian regime of Bashar al-Assad.
In response, the Prime Minister's Office, which oversees media inquiries related to Mossad in Israel, did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and a spokesperson for Minister al-Shaibani also declined to comment.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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