A senior Israeli defense official says Jerusalem is working through discreet channels with Ankara to prevent further escalation, while making clear that Israel will act if Turkish military deployments in Syria begin to threaten its security or freedom of action.

Against the backdrop of recent Israeli Air Force strikes in Syria and growing friction between Israel and Turkey, the official outlined Jerusalem’s approach in an interview with Kan News. “Israel does not want to turn Turkey into an enemy, and there are covert channels between the countries to transfer messages and avoid friction.”

The official also emphasized that Israel has established clear limits on what it considers an unacceptable military threat. “when the messages don’t help, Israel has to act.”

At the center of Israel’s concerns is the expansion of Turkish military capabilities inside Syria. Jerusalem is particularly focused on preventing the deployment of anti-aircraft systems, advanced missile platforms and drones that could restrict Israel’s ability to conduct military operations in the region.

As part of that strategy, the IDF recently targeted infrastructure and runways at the Abu al-Duhur military airfield in northern Syria. The strike was carried out before Turkish equipment reportedly reached the site, in what Israeli officials described as a preemptive move.

According to the Israeli defense official, the operation was intended to deliver a message to Damascus: Israel does not necessarily oppose the strengthening of Syria’s military capabilities, but it will not accept the establishment of a new military threat along its borders.

Meanwhile, Turkish diplomatic and military officials have sought to lower tensions and have firmly rejected claims that Turkish forces were at the airbase when it was struck.

In an official statement, Ankara said that “no Turkish military delegation was present at the Syrian airbase before or during the Israeli strikes.”