The Israeli Air Force carried out more strikes on Syrian air bases on Wednesday, including on an airfield in central Syria that Turkey may take over. The attacks will make it harder for Ankara to deliver troops, air defenses and other equipment and to operate the facilities in general, should it attempt to do so. We recently reported on growing tensions between Turkey and Israel over Syria and on the former’s potential plans to setup shop at T4 airfield, which could become very problematic for Israeli air operations over the country.
“In the past hours, the IDF struck military capabilities that remained at the Syrian bases of Hama and T4, along with additional remaining military infrastructure sites in the area of Damascus,” the IDF declared on Telegram. “The IDF will continue to operate to remove any threat to Israeli civilians.”
Turkey intends to convert the T4 base into a drone facility, The Jerusalem Post reported on Tuesday, citing a Western intelligence source. Ankara is “considering the temporary deployment of S-400 air defense systems to T4 or Palmyra to secure the airspace during reconstruction efforts,” the Middle East Eye reported on Tuesday, citing a source. “However, no final decision has been made and Russia would need to give its approval.”
Low-resolution satellite images show that previous Israeli airstrikes have created two large crater areas in T4’s runway, making it virtually impossible for any heavy-lift transport planes to land. The main taxiway is also cut into three parts. The images were taken today and on March 19, so the runway was cratered within that timeframe.
While it is too early to get a battle damage assessment on today’s attack, it would have created additional damage.
The facility is located 140 miles south of the Turkey-Syria border, making any overland supply, especially of delicate weaponry like drones and advanced air defense systems, a challenging and dangerous option. Turkey and its local proxies are still fighting the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
As we previously reported, the strikes come amid concerns that Turkey will move aircraft, air defense systems and troops there. Ankara is negotiating a security agreement with the new government in Damascus, sparking concerns about a confrontation between Israel and Turkey.
“The establishment of a Turkish Air Force base in Palmyra, Syria, could heighten regional tensions and increase the risk of conflict with Israel,” a senior IDF official told The War Zone last week. “Given Israel’s ongoing efforts to prevent hostile military entrenchment in Syria, any significant Turkish military presence, especially in strategic locations like Palmyra, could be perceived as a threat to Israeli security interests.”
The growing friction between Israel and Turkey is taking place as both sides are seeking to satisfy their own territorial ambitions in the wake of the fall of long-time dictator Bashar Al Assad in December. The new government established by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which led anti-Assad forces with a great deal of support from Turkey, has yet to gain full control over the country. In that vacuum, Jerusalem and Ankara have been seeking to expand their spheres of influence there. For Israel, it’s more about being able to operate its combat aircraft freely over the country. If Turkey sets up advanced air defenses, ones that could act on behalf of the sitting government, it would greatly complicate Israeli access to the airspace. It could also result in a sudden escalation between Turkey and Israel, which are taking increasingly hostile positions toward each other.
The strikes were seen as a “message” to Ankara, according to the Jerusalem Post.
“Do not establish a military base in Syria and do not interfere with Israeli activity in the country’s skies,” was the message, explained the Post, citing an official. An Israeli analyst offered a similar take last week after previous strikes on the base.
Given what’s at stake, one Israeli analyst told us that today’s attack on T4 won’t be the last.
“It is highly likely we will see more such incidents in the future, as part of the Turkish efforts to establish themselves in Syria,” suggested Boaz Shapira of Israel’s Alma Center.
Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com