Date: 18 September 2026 By PK-News.com A United Nations meeting focused on Syria’s political transition turned into a heated dispute between Israel and Turkey over their military presence inside Syria. Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, used the meeting to criticize Turkey’s growing military role in Syria. He presented a map and claimed that Israel’s military-controlled area near the Syrian border is much smaller than the territory where Turkey maintains forces and bases. According to the Israeli representative, Turkey has thousands of troops stationed across Syria and maintains numerous military positions. Israel argued that Turkey’s presence deserves international attention if Israel’s limited security zone is being described as a threat to Syria’s stability. Turkey rejected the accusation. Its ambassador said Turkish forces are operating in Syria at the invitation of the government in Damascus and are not directed against another country. Ankara also accused Israel of trying to portray Turkey’s cooperation with Syria as a threat in order to justify its own actions. The dispute placed Syria’s new government in an uncomfortable position. The Syrian ambassador had attended the UN meeting to discuss the country’s progress and political transition, but the discussion instead became focused on competing Israeli and Turkish interests. Syria said it wants to move away from the period when its territory was used as a battleground for regional rivalries. The Syrian representative urged countries not to bring their proxy disputes into discussions about Syria’s future. The exchange highlights the continuing disagreements over foreign military involvement in Syria as the country attempts to move through a major political transition. Read more international news at PK-News.com.