Warum könnte Israels nächster Konflikt mit der Türkei sein

Escalating tensions between [Israel](https://inews.co.uk/topic/israel?srsltid=AfmBOornnjUOSiX-SagIbVYnGmqklOEf0FNRwGqTDF6HFpZMATz9qi5W&ico=in-line_link) and [Turkey](https://inews.co.uk/topic/turkey?srsltid=AfmBOoouJMyDAmNo9rjYtfHKr8gfy-434inwdrWv1_LRuYYXHRCBU2Vq&ico=in-line_link) have raised the threat of conflict between the regional powers, with [Syria](https://inews.co.uk/topic/syria?srsltid=AfmBOoorJkR7NtpyH3iaJ-Szp9v9sG4LvygKx4iulzJVXNoeBXzXXSU_&ico=in-line_link) a potential flashpoint, according to regional security experts. 

This week, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara would intervene against any move to divide Syria, following Israeli incursions and [air strikes](https://inews.co.uk/news/world/terrified-tv-reporter-runs-cover-israel-bombs-syrian-military-hq-3809092?ico=in-line_link) targeting government buildings and forces during deadly [sectarian clashes](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0m87d4p9gvo). 

Fidan said that if Turkey saw efforts to “fragment and destabilise” the country, “we will consider this a direct threat to our security and intervene”.

Israel has occupied territory it calls a “buffer zone” in southern Syria since the [overthrow of Bashar al-Assad](https://inews.co.uk/opinion/the-overthrow-of-assad-is-as-seismic-as-the-fall-of-the-shah-3420969?ico=in-line_link) last December and says it will enforce a policy of “demilitarisation” of Syrian territory south of Damascus. 

Some Israeli officials such as far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have called for the country to be [partitioned](https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/smotrich-fighting-wont-end-until-hundreds-of-thousands-of-gazans-leave-syria-partitioned/). Israel has supported Syrian minorities such as Druze and Kurdish groups that are seeking autonomy or independence from Damascus. 

Turkey, which has occupied swathes of northern Syria since 2016 during the 13-year civil war, has fought a decades-long conflict against Kurdish militant factions, which it considers terrorists. The largest of these, the PKK, recently agreed to disarm.

Ankara has established close relations with the new Syrian government, having previously aligned with the Islamist group HTS that led the overthrow of Assad, which now dominates the new administration.

Syria requested support from Turkey to rebuild its defence capabilities this week, [Turkish officials said](https://apnews.com/article/turkey-syria-requests-defense-support-0415df4c2c67f908add45607933b08de), with local media reports claiming Syria has already begun to receive armoured vehicles from its ally.

Bibi can’t stand the fact that Syria might be on its way to democracy.