The bombardment signals the risks of a deepening rift between two powerful regional militaries over Syria, where Islamist rebels installed a new government after toppling Bashar al-Assad.

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.

Israel has accused Turkey of trying to turn their common neighbour Syria into a protectorate. In parallel with that accusation, the Israelis late on April 2 stepped up airstrikes on Syria, telling Damascus that it should see the attacks as a warning.