Israel bombed the T4 Air Base in Syria, where Türkiye was allegedly planning to establish a military base. An Israeli official stated, “This attack carries a message to Türkiye: ‘Do not establish a military base in Syria’.”

According to Syria’s official news agency SANA, Israeli aircraft conducted more than 14 airstrikes yesterday evening targeting Hama Airport and surrounding points, the T4 Military Air Base in Homs province, and military infrastructure in the capital, Damascus. Additionally, mortar and artillery attacks were carried out west of Deraa province.

A statement from the Israeli army confirmed that a series of airstrikes were executed in Syria. The statement indicated that Israeli warplanes targeted Hama Military Airport, the T4 Military Airport in Syria’s Homs province, and military infrastructure in the Damascus region. It also confirmed targeting a scientific research building in Damascus’s Barzeh neighborhood.

An Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that the recent airstrikes in Syria were carried out to “convey a message to Türkiye.” The official specified the message was, “Do not establish military bases in Syria and do not interfere with Israeli activities in the country’s skies.”

A report by Middle East Eye (MEE), citing sources knowledgeable on the subject, claimed that Türkiye intended to deploy Turkish-made Hisar-type air defense systems and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with advanced surveillance and strike capabilities to the T4 Air Base.

It had previously been claimed that Ankara was preparing to take control of the T4 Military Air Base near the ancient city of Palmyra, which Israel had struck.

According to the report by Qatar-based Middle East Eye (MEE), citing Turkish military sources, Ankara plans to equip the base with a complex defense system featuring short, medium, and long-range capabilities against warplanes, UAVs, and missiles.

It is also alleged that Türkiye plans to deploy S-400 air defense systems to the base in addition to the Hisar systems. However, Russia’s approval is necessary for the deployment of the S-400s.

The report notes that the base “will provide Türkiye with greater air control in Syria and serve as a starting point for intensified operations against ISIS.” It further states, “The presence of Türkiye’s UAVs and air defense systems will deter Israel from conducting airstrikes in the region.”

The Israeli army had also targeted the T4 and nearby Palmyra bases on March 21-22; those airstrikes damaged infrastructure at the base, including runways, hangars, and control buildings.

As the Israeli army prepares to intensify its attacks in Gaza, the crisis within its reserve forces, considered the “backbone of the army,” is growing.

According to a report in Haaretz, tens of thousands of reserve soldiers are expected to be recalled to duty as Israel prepares to escalate its operations in Gaza. However, army officials report that motivation is declining, and an increasing number of reservists are stating they will not report for duty. Officials indicate that the reasons for this drop in motivation include war fatigue, the lack of clear objectives for the ongoing conflict, and anger towards government policies.

A senior reserve commander informed Haaretz that brigade and battalion commanders are handling numerous cases involving reserve soldiers refusing to report for duty. The most frequently cited reason is the perception that the government is making insufficient efforts to rescue the hostages. This is followed by anger over the proposed law exempting ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service and discontent regarding judicial reform plans.

Another reserve officer reported that soldiers and commanders suffer from severe burnout after serving hundreds of days over the past year. He expressed that they struggle to commit to new missions not only for political reasons but also due to physical and psychological fatigue.

Among those refusing service is combat pilot Alon Gur, who publicly announced his resignation last week after 16 years of service. Declaring his departure from the Air Force, Gur stated on social media, “The line has been crossed,” accusing the government of “prioritizing politics over human life.” After Gur was relieved of duty, other reserve soldiers began taking similar actions, causing significant concern within the army command.

According to Israeli army data, as of February, the reserve participation rate stood at 85%. At the start of the war, however, almost all called-up reservists reported for duty, marking the highest reserve mobilization in Israeli history.

Israel, with its relatively small population, relies on its reserve forces system to sustain the army during prolonged conflicts. This system, which involves recalling individuals who have returned to civilian life after compulsory military service back to active duty when needed, is considered one of the cornerstones of Israel’s security doctrine. This system allows tens of thousands of experienced soldiers to be rapidly deployed to the front lines during times of war or crisis.

According to the 2025 Threat Assessment Report from the US Intelligence Community, the umbrella organization for 18 separate intelligence agencies, Hamas retains the capacity to sustain low-intensity guerrilla warfare and remains a primary political actor in Gaza. In Lebanon, Hezbollah, noted as weakened post-war, is still described as posing a threat to Israel and the US.

According to a report in Haaretz, the assessment predicted that “tension will persist regarding the situation in Gaza, as well as in the Israel-Hezbollah and Israel-Iran dynamics” and stated that Hamas “will continue to pose a threat to Israel’s security even in its weakened state.”

The report also noted that Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel disrupted the diplomatic progress achieved through the Abraham Accords and the trend toward stability in the Middle East.

Pointing out that Hamas has preserved thousands of its fighters and a significant portion of its underground infrastructure, the report warned that the organization “likely used the ceasefire to bolster its military capacity and replenish ammunition stocks.”

The report stated, “Hamas retains the capacity to reignite low-intensity guerrilla resistance and will remain the dominant political actor in Gaza for the foreseeable future. The low expectations among the parties for a permanent ceasefire and the absence of a post-war political and reconstruction plan point towards instability that could last for years.”

Noting that support for Hamas among Palestinians in the West Bank is higher compared to the Palestinian Authority, the report assessed that “the long-term trajectory of Israeli-Palestinian relations will depend on developments in the increasingly unstable West Bank.”

The report also highlighted that the Palestinian Authority’s capacity to provide security and public services in the West Bank is progressively weakening, emphasizing that Israeli operations in the West Bank, attacks by Jewish settlers, and the activities of Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas, could further deepen the governance crisis.

It added, “A potential leadership change within the Palestinian Authority could exacerbate governance challenges. Furthermore, how Israel will govern post-war Gaza and whether its operations in the West Bank will undermine the Palestinian Authority will also be crucial factors.”

The report also drew attention to the fragile dynamics between Israel and Lebanon, warning that a resumption of large-scale Israeli operations in Lebanon could heighten sectarian tensions, weaken Lebanese security forces, and worsen the humanitarian crisis.

The report concluded, “Despite being weakened, Hezbollah retains the capacity to target Americans and US interests regionally and globally, and even, to a limited extent, on US soil.”