An official video by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the “Turkish security threat” in Syria has sparked a wave of mockery and criticism. The video was intended to justify Israel’s strike on the Abu al-Duhur air base, showing maps and data on the movements of Turkish troops. However, analysts and journalists viewed the publication as an attempt to create a new external enemy and divert attention from Israel’s domestic problems.
Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for Netanyahu’s office on international media, claimed that Turkey allegedly intends to expand its military presence at Abu al-Duhur air base in northern Syria. He compared the territories controlled by the various sides, asserting that Turkey is present in approximately 5% of Syria, while Israel controls 0.1% of its south. The Israeli side also accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of seeking to expand his “aggression” against Israel in Syria and warned that it would not allow Ankara to advance toward its borders.
Turkey’s Directorate of Communications rejected this version of events, calling the statements by Netanyahu’s office “nonsense devoid of historical facts and political seriousness.” Ankara said the claims represented “cheap politics” intended to strengthen Netanyahu’s position domestically and conceal his responsibility for war crimes. Turkey warned that artificially declaring it a new threat could create serious risks for regional and global peace.
Journalists and observers also questioned the maps and information featured in the video. According to journalist Rina Netjes, Israel’s claims are completely inaccurate: Turkey’s military presence in northern Syria has declined significantly compared with the period before December 2024. Other commentators accused Israel of manipulating maps to justify strikes on Syria, pointing to the withdrawal of Turkish forces from several bases in the Afrin area. The distances shown in the video also prompted particular irony, as did its references to Israeli control over the Golan Heights, which much of the international community considers occupied Syrian territory.
Researchers believe that the English-language video, produced in the style of American analytical materials, may have been aimed primarily at US security circles and intended to influence Turkish-American relations over Syria. Tensions between Ankara and Tel Aviv intensified after the strikes on Abu al-Duhur: Israel claims that a Turkish military mission was located there, while Turkey denies this and promises to defend Syria and its territorial integrity. Against this backdrop, Ankara requested an international arrest warrant for Netanyahu in a case in which he is accused of genocide, while the United States urged the sides to engage in dialogue and exercise restraint.
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What is the strategic significance of Abu al-Duhur air base, and why is its location in northern Syria important to Turkey’s and Israel’s interests? — Abu al-Duhur air base is located in Idlib province and can be used to deploy troops, conduct reconnaissance and strikes, and control transport routes in northwestern Syria. The area is important to Turkey because of its proximity to the Turkish border, the presence of armed groups, and the risk of new refugee flows. For Israel, northern Syria matters as part of its broader rivalry with Iran and forces aligned with it. However, the base’s direct impact on Israel depends on who controls it and what weapons are stationed there.
How has Turkey’s military presence in the Afrin and Idlib areas changed since December 2024, and which forces actually control these territories? — Since December 2024, Turkey’s presence should be assessed separately from the control exercised by local forces. Turkey retains influence through military observation posts, bases, advisers, and support for allied formations, but it does not necessarily exercise full direct control. In Afrin, Turkish-backed Syrian armed groups play the leading role, while in Idlib control is divided among various local forces, including structures linked to Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. The situation on the ground can change rapidly.
Why do the Golan Heights have a special status under international law, and how does the dispute over the territory’s ownership affect Israel’s statements about Syria’s borders? — The Golan Heights are considered occupied Syrian territory: Israel seized most of the region in 1967, and in 1981 the UN Security Council declared Israel’s decision to extend its laws there null and void. Most countries do not recognize the Golan Heights as part of Israel. Consequently, Israeli statements about Syria’s borders are viewed in the context of the ongoing territorial dispute and do not alter the internationally recognized position that the territory’s final status must be determined by agreement.
Full version: Official Israeli video about the “Turkish threat” in Syria sparks criticism