Report: Israel told US Turkey was planning to deploy air defense system at targeted Syrian base

Israel reportedly claimed to the US that Turkey was planning to set up an air defense system on the airbase in northwest Syria that the IDF struck last week, according to the Kan public broadcaster.

According to the report, citing sources familiar with the matter, Israel told the US that if Turkey were to set up an air defense system at the Abu Duhur military airport, it would interfere with Israel’s air superiority in the region and change the balance of power.

Jerusalem claimed on Tuesday, following the overnight strikes, that Turkey was planning to deploy forces to the airbase, but did not provide any details as to the nature of the alleged Turkish military deployment.

According to Kan, Israel did not give the US an estimated date for the arrival of Turkish air defense systems to Syria, saying only that Ankara was planning to dispatch the system and that Abu Duhur was its likely destination.

Earlier, the US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack cast doubt on Israel’s claim that Turkey was moving military assets in the airbase, and said US intel did not indicate such action.