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Turkey and Israel are engaged in an escalating war of words over Syria as the regional rivals vie for influence in the country following the downfall of the Assad regime.

Ankara has in recent days condemned Israel's military campaign in southern Syria's occupied Golan Heights, prompting Israel to accuse it on Tuesday of supporting jihadist groups and illegally occupying parts of northern Syria.

"The last country that can speak about the occupation in Syria is Turkey, with 15 percent of Syria’s territory under the control of proxies operating under its patronage. There is no justification for the continuation of Turkish aggression and violence against Kurds in Syria," the Israeli foreign ministry said.

The Turkish military has been present in pockets of Syria's north since 2016 and has backed a coalition of armed groups known as the Syrian National Army to combat Kurdish forces on the border.

Meanwhile, Israel's incursion into southern Syria and its pledge to expand illegal settlements in the Golan Heights region of Syria, occupied since 1967, has attracted strong criticism from Turkey.

The Turkish foreign ministry accused Tel Aviv of initiating "a new stage in [its] goal of expanding its borders through occupation", which it said will "seriously undermine" the stability of Syria and the region.

It has also condemned Israel’s massive��bombing campaign across Syria since Assad’s ouster, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accusing Israel of “major provocations” designed to destroy the capabilities of the new Syrian government.

Israel has bombed hundreds of Syrian military sites in the 10 days since Assad fled the country, targeting weapons storage sites, airfields and the naval fleet in Latakia.

The rapid political change in Syria marks a new stage in the deterioration of relations between Turkey and Israel, which analysts say could further stoke tensions the region.

“With the toppling of the Assad regime and the retreat of the Iranian influence, both countries find themselves on a potential collision course regarding Syria's future,” Ali Bakeer, senior non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council, told ������.

“Turkey is committed to defending a free Syria with all its resources, which will compel it to address the issue of Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights and the occupation of additional Syrian lands following the regime's toppling.”

The two countries are at odds over the new governing authorities in Damascus, which are led by Sunni Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani.

Turkey has been vocally supportive of the rebel group since it initiated its offensive against Assad’s forces in November, and has offered to provide military support to the fledgling government.

Israel fears HTS's Islamist orientation and has described al-Sharaa as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”.

Asli Aydintasbas, visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution, said that Syria has become “a new battleground” between the two countries, potentially having “dangerous and destabilising” consequences for the region.

“With Turkey’s influence expanding in Syria, the two countries are physically closer. They need to stop the escalatory cycle, where everyone has a lot to lose,” she told ������.

Turkey and Israel’s relationship hit historic lows after Israel launched its indiscriminate war on the Gaza Strip in October last year.

Turkey has severed trade ties with Israel—the only country in the Middle East to do so—and has accused it of committing genocide against the Palestinians.

Personal relations between the countries’ leaders are also at their lowest ebb, with Erdogan repeatedly comparing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler.