Syria: Turkish and Israeli Fighter Jets Avoided Conflict Over Damascus

Fighter jets from Turkey and Israel reportedly came close to a direct confrontation over Syria on Friday, May 2, 2025. This incident occurred as Tel Aviv was launching airstrikes against various targets in Damascus, aiming to send a strong message to Ahmed Al-Saraa and his allies. According to reports from Israeli and Turkish media, during the large-scale Israeli attack on Damascus, Turkish fighter jets conducted reconnaissance flights near the areas targeted by Israel. The Turkish F-16s issued warning signals using their electronic warfare systems, leading to brief radio communication between the aircraft, which allowed both sides to avoid escalation. It is noted that the Israeli strikes targeted multiple locations, including positions held by pro-Turkish Syrian militias, which reportedly receive arms, supplies, and training from Turkey. Meanwhile, relations between Syria and Turkey have strengthened, with Turkey seeking to become the provider of air defense for Syria, partly through establishing a base at the T4 airbase, which was active during Bashar al-Assad’s regime.