Turkish Jets Engaged In Electronic Jamming Operations Against Israel Over Syria

Both Israel and Turkey have long been the major regional players with a “hidden hand” in Syria – with both at times covertly leading the drive to weaken and overthrow the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad.

And now the scramble for the spoils have been on since Assad’s exiting the country to Moscow on December 8. Israeli tanks and ground units have moved up toward Damascus from the South, and Turkey’s “Syrian National Army” proxy fighters have been active in Aleppo province and in northern Syria.

Turkey has also reportedly been involved with the new Syrian government under al-Qaeda linked Jolani (Sharaa), establishing anti-air defense infrastructure at Syrian bases, particularly near Palmyra in the center of the country.

But Israel has since December been busy bombing Syrian military sites and equipment out of existence. Syria once had to most advanced (Russian-supplied) air defense missile systems in the whole region, but now these batteries have been destroyed.

Further, there’s no longer a Syrian Arab Army (SAA) to man or operate sophisticated systems. This means Israel’s air force has had free reign over Syria’s skies. But Tel Aviv increasingly has a rival in Syria: Turkey’s military.

With sectarian fighting this week resulting in dozens of deaths among Syria’s Druze community, Israel has been sending ‘warning’ strikes, including near the presidential palace in Damascus.

Regional reports say Turkey is at the same time quietly engaging in anti-Israel operations:

Turkish fighter jets reportedly issued electronic warning signals and engaged in jamming operations late on Friday in an effort to deter Israeli aircraft operating in Syrian airspace, amid a new wave of airstrikes across the country.

The rare move came as Israeli warplanes launched attacks on multiple sites, including in the Hama and Damascus regions, drawing renewed scrutiny over ongoing violations of Syrian sovereignty.

“Turkish fighter jets issued warning signals and jammed Israeli aircraft during Tel Aviv’s latest deadly bombing campaign in Syria,” The New Arab writes.

The Netanyahu government has already been strongly warning Turkey against getting more deeply involved in Syria, but clearly Jolani and his HTS rulers have found their biggest backer in Erdogan.

There does seem to be confirmation coming from Israeli sources on the Turkish jamming story:

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority confirmed the Turkish interference, reporting that “Turkish aircraft are sending warning signals and jamming Israeli fighter jets to make them leave Syrian airspace.”

Turkish officials have voiced increasing frustration at Israel’s expanding operations in Syria, which Ankara regards as a threat to its interests and to regional stability.

Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned against Israeli strikes late this week. “In this context, Israel must put an end to its airstrikes, which harm efforts toward Syria’s unity and territorial integrity,” a statement said.

Jolani and the “Syrian revolution” destroying Syria’s air defence systems and radars since 2013. https://t.co/To9c4djkZy

— Syrian Girl (@Partisangirl) May 3, 2025

As for Israel’s support to the Druze religious minority, many Syrians see this as but a pretext for Israeli invasion and occupation of the south – where most Druze happen to be. The ruling HTS is made up of hardline Sunnis, who consider Druze to be ‘apostates’ and ‘heretics’ – given their outlier and esoteric beliefs. 

Turkey, on the other side, has long supported Sunni interests in Syria. Erdogan has long been accused of ‘neo-Ottoman’ policies, also as Turkey wages war against the Kurds of northern Syria.