US envoy warns Israeli strike in Syria risked clash with Türkiye

An Israeli military strike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Syria's Idlib province carried the risk of turning the situation into a direct military confrontation between Israel and Türkiye, US Special Envoy for Syria and Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack told The Jerusalem Post, Report informs

"Turkish forces were not aware that the Israeli aircraft were en route to that specific Syrian base, nor of their intended purpose, and therefore could potentially have been inclined to scramble their own jets in the belief that they themselves were under attack," Barrack said.

Barrack described the incident as a serious and concerning development. However, he said the United States was relieved that the incident did not result in casualties or further escalation.

The newspaper noted that one of the main disagreements during negotiations was Israel's concern over the possible deployment of Turkish military personnel or equipment at some Syrian bases, including those located near the Israeli border.

Barrack said that the lack of clear communication channels could have made the situation "much worse," and that this needs to change.

"We are currently engaged in quiet discussions with all the relevant parties about relaunching a deconfliction cell between Israel and Syria," he said, adding that Türkiye could also become involved either directly or indirectly.

According to the special envoy, such a mechanism should operate on a permanent, round-the-clock basis, while the lack of reliable communication channels creates unnecessary risks in itself.