What’s behind the Israel-Turkey power struggle in Syria?

Israel has been conducting military operations in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, frequently launching attacks and entering the country's southern regions under the guise of targeting former government weapons. However, a recent strike on the Abu Al Duhur military airfield in northern Idlib province appears to have been aimed at Turkey, as tensions between the two nations have escalated.

Israeli officials accused Turkey of deploying troops at the airbase, a claim denied by both Syria and Turkey. US special envoy to Syria and ambassador to Ankara Tom Barrack labeled the strikes as unnecessary and deeply concerning.

This conflict arises as President Ahmad Al Shara's government strives for stability in Syria while maintaining amicable relationships with neighboring nations, with the support of the United States. Recent efforts to resume stalled talks between Israel and Syria were reignited in Jordan, with the US attempting to ease tensions. However, both Turkey and Israel are vying for influence in a post-Assad Syria, and numerous challenges persist.

In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher interviews Noah Bonsey, a senior adviser on Syria at the International Crisis Group, and Danny Citrinowicz, a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies, to discuss the underlying factors driving this confrontation between two significant regional players.