Turkey and Iran have been regional rivals for decades, with Syria as a key battleground. The ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December significantly shifted the power dynamics in the country, strengthening Ankara's position while weakening Iran's influence.

Israelis are hoping that Iran hawks in the Trump administration might moderate any tendency to go easy on Tehran.

Iran and Turkey’s regional rivalry deepens as Ankara moves to make peace with the Kurds and expands its influence in Syria and Iraq at Tehran’s expense.

Israeli ground forces have carried out their deepest incursion into Syrian territory to date, advancing into areas in the southwestern provinces of Quneitra and Dara’a, local reports said on Tuesday.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman has reacted to the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's statements against Iran's regional policies.

Assad government in December, Israel expanded its occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights by seizing the demilitarized buffer zone, a move that violated the 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria. It also intensified airstrikes targeting Syrian military positions across the country.