Haaretz slams Netanyahu Syria strikes, warns of Türkiye conflict

The Israeli daily Haaretz criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday over his decision to strike targets in northern Syria, warning that the escalation could drag Israel into a "pointless conflict" with Türkiye.

Editorial condemns strike on Syrian airbase

In an editorial, the newspaper said that while observers had wondered whether Netanyahu would choose to wage war in Gaza or Lebanon ahead of elections, he instead decided to expand a front with Türkiye by targeting the Abu al-Duhur military airfield in Idlib province on Tuesday. "While we were wondering whether, ahead of the election, Benjamin Netanyahu would choose to wage war in Gaza or Lebanon, or perhaps ignite the West Bank, he decided to make a move in northern Syria, expanding a front with Türkiye," the daily said. Netanyahu claimed the attack targeted the expansion of Turkish presence in the region, a charge both Ankara and Washington denied while accusing the Israeli premier of acting for electoral reasons.

Sources at Türkiye's Defense Ministry confirmed that no Turkish military mission was present at the airbase either before or during the Israeli strike, according to Anadolu Agency.

US envoy warns of escalation risk

Thomas Barrack, the US ambassador to Türkiye and special envoy for Syria and Iraq, warned that the Israeli attack "could have escalated into a direct military confrontation" between Israel and Türkiye, suggesting this may have been Israel's actual objective. Barrack stressed that Türkiye "has no intention of attacking Israel or of entering into a military confrontation with it," adding that Israel may be "acting irrationally" given the current election period.

Haaretz slams 'dangerous' operation

Haaretz warned that the military action comes as international powers seek to stabilize Syria, noting that Israel "is acting in a way that contradicts this logic." "Thus, Israel is distancing not just Syria, but all the other players involved there, chiefly the US," the paper stated. While Netanyahu was bragging about the "pinpointed operation in northern Syria, a dangerous and pointless one, new alliances are being formed under his nose, and Israel is not a part of them," the editorial added.

Syria protests to UN over strikes

Following the attack on the Abu al-Duhur airbase, Damascus sent two identical letters to the UN and the UN Security Council stating that Israel's continued attacks "hinder stabilization efforts and threaten the region with further tensions." Israel has expanded its assaults across Syria since the ouster of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024. "One cannot create security and foil threats only by bombing. This is no substitute for diplomacy and a well-thought-out policy, something which in the Netanyahu era has become devoid of any meaning," Haaretz concluded.