Aug 23, 2026

Israel News Today: Katz Says Israel Warned Syria Before Air Base Strike as Sa'ar Seeks to Calm Turkey Tensions

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel directly warned the highest levels of the Syrian government before striking the Abu Duhur air base over Turkey's alleged plans to deploy forces there, while Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said Israel has no interest in escalation with Turkey. At a Tel Aviv protest, the father of a soldier killed on October 7 called for a full investigation of the failures.

Katz: Syria Warned Before Air Base Strike

Katz said the military had recommended "several times" striking Syria's Abu Duhur airport over Turkey's alleged plans to deploy forces there, and that the political echelon directly warned the Syrian government before authorising the strike, The Times of Israel reported.

Sa'ar: No Interest in Escalation With Turkey

"We are committed to preserving the status quo," Sa'ar told Channel 12, saying Israel has no interest in escalation with Turkey but will not accept Turkish bases in Syria, The Times of Israel reported.

Father of October 7 Victim Demands Investigation

Liad Baram, whose soldier son Neta was killed at the Nahal Oz base on October 7, told protesters at Tel Aviv's Habima Square that the state has an "unceasing and unforgivable debt" to investigate the failures that led to the attack, The Times of Israel reported.

Bennett Calls Netanyahu an "Anarchist"

B'Yachad leader Naftali Bennett denounced Netanyahu as an "anarchist" whose toxic campaigning could put rival Gadi Eisenkot in physical danger, The Times of Israel reported.

Border Council Demands Response to Gaza Kites

The Shaar Hanegev Regional Council demanded that the military respond to kites flown from Gaza, after four kites were found in Kibbutz Nahal Oz; the army said they were not carrying anything, The Times of Israel reported.

Abbas: Arab Citizens Are a Bridge for Peace

Ra'am head Mansour Abbas told his party's convention in Taibe that Arab citizens of Israel are a bridge for peace and that Ra'am had made Arab participation in a coalition a real political option, The Times of Israel reported.