Israel's 'Trump Model' in Syria: 'Turkey Got the Message'
Israel struck in Syria to prevent a Turkish foothold and to prevent the deployment of "things that must not be there," according to a senior Israeli official. He further noted that while Jerusalem acts against Damascus on a diplomatic level, it does not hesitate to use military force when necessary: "A policy inspired by the US President, who talks to everyone - and fights everyone."
"Turkey got the message and stopped the move - but it is unclear for how long," said a senior Israeli official on Monday, a week after the strike on the Abu al-Duhur military airfield near Idlib in Syria. According to him, after diplomatic efforts failed to prevent Ankara's attempt to establish itself in the area, which he defined as a "red line," the decision was made to strike - with full backing from the military echelon: "Presented the most militant position possible."
The official also addressed reports regarding a Turkish intention to deploy systems in the Abu al-Duhur area. He refused to detail exactly what Ankara sought to deploy there, but said they were "real, significant things that must not be there," because they could reduce Israeli freedom of action and create a precedent for this type of Turkish presence in Syria. The official assessed that Turkey could become a threat in the long term, but emphasized: "I do not see a war with it tomorrow morning."
'Works with everyone - fights everyone'
Regarding Syria, the official noted that Israel seeks to prevent a significant establishment of military forces in the south of the country and damage to the freedom of action of the Air Force in Syrian skies. At the same time, Israel seeks to continue working with the Druze in the As-Suwayda area and to preserve international legitimacy for its actions. He emphasized that Israel cannot allow the new Syria to build military capabilities that would endanger it.
"We have an enemy, it is clear to us that it is an enemy in the medium and long term. We must not allow it to build capabilities," he said.
According to the official, although Jerusalem conducts business with Damascus through diplomatic channels as well - namely the meeting between Mossad chief Roman Gofman and the Syrian Foreign Minister - alongside this, they do not hesitate to use military force when necessary. He defined this policy as "quantum diplomacy," inspired by US President Donald Trump:
"It is not zero or one. The world has always been divided, you are either with me or against me - and Trump plays on the whole field. Works with everyone and fights everyone."
Europe legitimized Al-Shara
"The Assad regime fell, but on the other hand, there is now Al-Qaeda," said the official. According to him, the main challenge is the success of Syrian President Ahmad Al-Shara in establishing a status for himself in the international arena, and especially vis-a-vis US President Donald Trump. The official also criticized the American ambassador Tom Burke, who he said "is doing him a great job and causing us great damage." According to the official, a "process of legitimization" of Al-Shara is taking place in Europe, partly due to the desire to allow the return of Syrian refugees. Regarding Al-Shara's relations with Turkey, he claimed that despite the public backing - the relations are not based on deep trust, due to conflicting regional ambitions: "Erdogan wants to be Saladin, and Julani wants to be Saladin."
