Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accusing him of dragging Turkey into "dangerous adventures" in Syria and cautioning him against testing Israel's resolve. The comments come amid rising Middle East tensions and unease within NATO, as President Donald Trump insists the US relationship with Turkey is "better than it's ever been" despite concerns over F-35 fighter jets, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has separately accused Ankara of supporting Hamas.

The warning highlights growing friction between Israel and Turkey, a NATO member, over Syria, where both countries have competing interests following the collapse of the Assad regime. Reports suggest Republican lawmakers are uneasy about Trump's conciliatory stance towards Erdogan, with backchannel pushback reportedly under way over fears it could shift the balance of power in the region.