Israeli strikes on Hama and Homs this week come amid an escalation in tensions with Turkey, as both countries seek to gain political leverage from the turmoil in Syria.

Israel targets Syrian airbases to warn Turkey against interference, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces protests at home and ramps up efforts to expand influence in Syria and region as a whole.

By Samia Nakhoul BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Turkey wants no confrontation with Israel in Syria, but repeated Israeli strikes on military facilities there are eroding the new government's ability to deter threats from enemies,