Could Syria become the focus of an Israeli-Turkish conflict?

In recent weeks, Syria has become a focal point for potential tensions between Israel and Turkey. The situation escalated after an Israeli attack on a Syrian military airfield in Idlib Province on August 18, 2025, which aimed to prevent any further violations of a previous security agreement by Turkey. Israel has accused Syria of violating this agreement, but both Syria and Turkey have rejected these allegations.

U.S. mediation facilitated the first meeting between Syrian and Israeli representatives in Jordan, an effort to defuse the escalating tensions and avert any potential conflict between Israel and Turkey. However, the situation remains volatile, as Israel views a Turkish military presence in Syria as a red line, despite the lack of publicly available evidence to confirm such a deployment.

The United States has criticized Israel's actions, labeling them as an "unnecessary escalation." Analysts argue that Israel's motives for attacking Syria may extend beyond Syria itself, with concerns over Turkey's growing regional influence and its strategic rivalry with Israel. Turkey, which supports Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, aims to maintain stability along the shared border and expand its regional influence.

Despite Syria's improved relations with the U.S., which include the easing of sanctions and the removal from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list, the country appears to be relying primarily on itself for foreign policy support, including in its relations with Turkey. The situation is further complicated by the dissolution of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and Turkey's ongoing attacks on the region where the majority of Syria's Kurdish population resides.