Reports have emerged of a tense close encounter between Turkish and Israeli fighter jets following a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting multiple sites in Syria on the evening of May 2, 2025. The incident underscores escalating regional tensions as both nations vie for influence in the volatile post-Assad Syrian landscape.
According to sources, the Israeli Air Force conducted bombing raids on several military targets in Syria, including sites near Damascus and in the Hama region, aimed at curbing the influence of extremist groups and preventing the use of former Assad regime assets. The strikes, part of a broader Israeli campaign in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, have drawn sharp criticism from Turkey, a key backer of Syria’s new interim government.
During these operations, Turkish fighter jets, reportedly operating in or near Syrian airspace as part of Ankara’s efforts to secure influence and establish a defense pact with Damascus, came into close proximity with Israeli aircraft. While no direct confrontation was reported, the incident highlights the growing risk of miscalculation between the two regional powers.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned Israel’s actions, calling them a “dangerous and unacceptable provocation” aimed at destabilizing Syria. Turkish officials have been negotiating