Syria to hold exercise with Turkey

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Damascus has announced Turkey will hold military exercises with Syria, shortly after canceling maneuvers with Israel.

It's feared the move will revive the cooler relations between Israel and NATO member Turkey. But both have denied the cancellation will pose any threat to their long-standing bilateral ties and strategic interests.

The secular Muslim country has been a key ally to Israel. But ties became strained over Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's criticism of Israeli's three-week offensive in the Gaza Strip last winter.

The Turkish foreign minister repeated on Tuesday that Ankara's position has not singled out Israel as a political punishment.