Israel has intensified its airstrikes on Syria, declaring the attacks as a "warning to the new Islamic rulers" in Damascus. Israel also accused Ankara of attempting to "impose its tutelage" on Syria. Turkey responded that Israel should withdraw from Syria and cease "undermining stability efforts" there, according to a statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
The airstrikes, which targeted two air bases and a site near the capital Damascus, as well as southwest of the country, have refocused attention on Israeli concerns about Islamists who ousted Bashar al-Assad in December. Israeli officials view them as an increasing threat to the border.
Israel, which is also wary of Ankara's influence over Damascus, has been pursuing its objectives in Syria since Assad's ousting. It has seized territory in the southwest, declared its willingness to protect the Druze minority, and bombed much of the heavy Syrian military equipment following Assad's fall.
The Israeli army reported that soldiers in southwest Syria killed several armed individuals who fired on them in the area overnight. They stated that their forces were on a targeted mission at the time beyond the buffer zone within Syria.
The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that the Israeli airstrike resulted in the deaths of nine individuals in the region. Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated that Wednesday evening's airstrikes were "a clear message and a warning for the future, we will not allow harm to the security of the State of Israel."
Katz reiterated that Israeli armed forces would remain in buffer zones within Syria and act against security threats, warning the Syrian government of a heavy price if it allows hostile forces against Israel to enter.
Reflecting Israeli concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar accused Ankara of playing a "negative role" there and in Lebanon and other areas. In Paris, he stated, "They are doing their utmost to impose Turkish tutelage on Syria. Clearly, that is their intention."
The Syrian Foreign Ministry's statement regarding the Israeli strikes said, "This unjustified escalation is a deliberate attempt to destabilize Syria and prolong the suffering of its people." It called on the international community to pressure Israel "to stop its aggression and adhere to international law."
Later on Thursday, SANA reported Israeli airstrikes targeting the vicinity of the town of Kiswah south of Damascus. There were no reports of casualties, and the Israeli military had yet to comment.
Israel has repeatedly launched airstrikes on Syria during the Assad regime, targeting the foothold established by Iran, Assad's ally, during the civil war. The strikes late on Wednesday were among the most intense Israeli attacks on Syria since Assad's ousting.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry announced that Israel had conducted strikes on five different areas within 30 minutes, resulting in the near-total destruction of Hama military airport and wounding dozens of civilians and military personnel.
The Israeli military stated it struck remaining military capabilities at the airbases in the provinces of Hama and Homs, as well as remaining military infrastructure in the Damascus area, where Syrian media and officials reported the vicinity of a scientific research facility was targeted.
Israel also announced on Wednesday that it targeted the T4 airbase in Homs province, a base that had come under repeated Israeli attacks over the past week.
In the incident in southwest Syria, the Israeli military reported that its forces were carrying out an operation in the Tasil area "seizing weapons and destroying terrorist infrastructure" when gunmen opened fire on them.
The Israeli army stated that the confrontation resulted in no casualties on their side and that their forces "responded with gunfire and eliminated several armed terrorists through ground and airstrikes."
They added, "The presence of weapons in southern Syria poses a threat to the State of Israel... The Israel Defense Forces will not allow any military threat presence in Syria and will act against it."