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.

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 defended the moves as necessary security measures, but Syria accused it of trying to destabilize the country.