Erdoan slams Israel for undermining Syria's stability.

In a heated exchange of words, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan has accused Israel of undermining regional stability by continuing its military operations in Syria. The criticism comes shortly after Ankara and Tel Aviv engaged in diplomatic discussions aimed at easing growing tensions between the two nations.

"Israel's reckless airstrikes in Syria are not only violating the sovereignty of a neighboring state but are also dragging the entire region into further chaos," Erdoan stated categorically during a press conference held in Istanbul. While they say they are protecting their safety, they are escalating conflict in areas that have already been devastated by war and displacement. Erdoan's remarks appear to be in direct response to a recent Israeli strike that reportedly targeted Iran-linked positions near Damascus. Israel has long maintained that its military actions in Syria are necessary to prevent Iranian encroachment near its borders, despite the fact that it routinely refrains from commenting on such operations. Turkey, which itself maintains a significant military presence in northern Syria, has often clashed with other foreign actors over the fate of the war-torn country. Ankara uses its position as a supporter of Syrian territorial integrity to criticize the Assad regime as well as external actors such as the United States, Russia, and, more recently, Israel. Its stated goal has been the suppression of Kurdish militias that it considers to be terrorist organizations. Erdoan's criticism's timing is especially noteworthy. It comes just days after Turkish and Israeli officials held quiet diplomatic talks in an effort to rebuild a fragile relationship that has been repeatedly tested over issues including Gaza, Jerusalem, and regional power balances. After a decade of tension, the two nations only recently resumed full diplomatic relations in 2022. According to experts, Erdoan's most recent statements may be a response to growing domestic pressure as well as an effort to reaffirm Turkey's position as a regional power broker and advocate for Muslim interests in the Middle East. Dr., a Middle East analyst, asserts, "This isn't just about Syria." Yeldz Selim. “This is Erdoğan signaling to both his domestic base and to the broader Arab and Muslim world that Turkey will not remain silent in the face of what it perceives as Israeli aggression.”

Israeli officials, on the other hand, have yet to publicly respond to Erdoan's statement, but some have questioned Turkey's legitimacy in criticizing others and its own role in Syria. “Turkey has its own interests in northern Syria, including military bases and proxy forces,” said a senior Israeli defense source, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It’s ironic to hear lectures from Ankara on regional stability.”

The overlapping interests of global and regional powers have transformed the country into a geopolitical chessboard as the Syrian conflict enters its second decade. The harsh words of Erdoan highlight the enduring turbulence of these entanglements and the difficulty of separating rhetoric from realpolitik. Whether this latest diplomatic friction marks a return to the acrimony of previous years or remains a temporary outburst in an otherwise pragmatic relationship remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that Syria continues to be the fault line where many of the region’s deepest tensions converge.