Israel struggling to counter Turkey’s growing regional role as Syria tensions rise

Summary:

Israel is finding it increasingly difficult to counter Türkiye’s expanding influence in Gaza and Syria, Israeli media reported, as Ankara deepens its diplomatic and military engagement and maintains close ties with U.S. President Donald Trump. Recent developments in Syria, including stalled talks with Kurdish-led forces and rising military activity, have added to Israeli concerns.

Israel’s ability to counter Türkiye’s growing role in regional diplomacy and security has weakened significantly, according to an analysis published by The Jerusalem Post, citing Israeli political and security sources.

The report said the government of Benjamin Netanyahu is facing shrinking diplomatic room to manoeuvre as Ankara increases its influence in both Gaza and Syria, while benefiting from strong ties with Donald Trump.

An Israeli source quoted by the newspaper said Washington’s position has become a limiting factor for Tel Aviv.

“There is a limit to how many times Israel can say no to Trump when it comes to Erdoğan,” the source said, referring to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Israeli concerns over Gaza and Syria

According to the report, Israeli officials privately acknowledge that Türkiye’s political and security footprint in Gaza and Syria has become increasingly difficult to block. Ankara has publicly signalled its readiness to play a role in post-war Gaza arrangements, while maintaining a sustained presence and influence in northern Syria.

Israeli officials have opposed Turkish involvement in Gaza, but Israeli media say confidence is fading that Washington would fully back Israel in resisting Ankara’s role.

Ankara–Washington contacts unsettle Tel Aviv

The Jerusalem Post also pointed to recent direct contact between Erdoğan and Trump ahead of planned international discussions on regional security. Israeli officials reportedly viewed the contact as a sign of Ankara’s growing leverage in Washington at a sensitive moment for Israel.

Israeli media have previously described Netanyahu as wary of closer coordination between Türkiye and the United States, particularly as Israel faces diplomatic pressure over the Gaza war.

Latest developments in Syria

Tensions in Syria have risen in recent days following the collapse of talks in Damascus between the Syrian government and representatives of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, according to regional security sources.

Following the breakdown of negotiations, Syrian government forces and allied units were reported to have increased their state of alert, while Türkiye also carried out high-level military assessments regarding potential next steps along its southern border.

Security analysts in the region say the coming days could prove decisive, as Ankara has repeatedly warned that it will not tolerate what it views as security threats from Kurdish armed groups linked to the PKK, which Türkiye, the U.S. and the EU designate as a terrorist organisation.

The Syrian government has rejected proposals from Kurdish-led forces for security arrangements that exclude Türkiye, regional sources said, underscoring Ankara’s continued influence over the trajectory of negotiations.

Erdoğan’s Gaza remarks noted by Israeli media

Israeli outlets also highlighted remarks by Erdoğan in a recent interview with Bloomberg, in which he said any mechanism for governing Gaza that excludes Türkiye would struggle to gain the trust of Palestinians.

Israeli commentators interpreted the statement as a clear signal of Ankara’s ambition to play a central role in shaping Gaza’s future governance and security arrangements.

Broader regional backdrop

Türkiye has sought to position itself as a key regional powerbroker, balancing ties with Western allies while expanding its influence in conflict zones such as Syria. Israel, meanwhile, faces diverging views with some partners over post-war Gaza plans and growing uncertainty over U.S. regional priorities.

Israeli officials quoted by the Jerusalem Post said these dynamics have narrowed Israel’s strategic options and increased its reliance on Washington at a time when Ankara’s regional role appears to be expanding.

Source:  Türkiye Gazette

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