A detailed report highlights how the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have actively prevented Turkey from establishing combat aircraft at airbases in post-Assad Syria.
Israel has communicated—through both direct channels and indirect actions—that a permanent Turkish air force presence in Syria would violate a clear red line, threatening Israel's long-standing freedom of operation in Syrian airspace.
To reinforce this stance and deter Turkish expansion, the Israeli Air Force has intensified patrols in the Eastern Mediterranean, including increased flights north of Cyprus—an area Turkey considers part of its strategic sphere.
Foreign reports indicate regular Israeli jet operations in this zone, with confirmation from senior Israeli military sources.
In response, Turkey has conducted its own flights south of Cyprus, intended to assert dominance over maritime areas and counter Israeli surveillance capabilities.
This aerial shadowboxing reflects deeper rivalry in the region, and the situation remains highly volatile with no resolution in sight.
Source: Shai Levy, "מלחמה קרה בים התיכון: כך בולם חיל האוויר את ארדואן בסוריה" – https://www.mako.co.il/pzm-magazine/Article-e844558096b7b91027.htm (published January 2, 2026)
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