Israel opens secret channels with Turkey to prevent Syria clash, official says
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
A senior Israeli security official said Israel is holding secret talks with Turkey to prevent a military clash after striking the Abu al-Duhur air base in Syria. The official told Israel's public broadcaster KAN that Israel does not want to turn Turkey into an enemy. The statement came as Washington criticized the August 18 strike, saying it was not notified in advance.
Key Facts
- A senior Israeli security official told KAN on August 23 that Israel is conducting secret talks with Turkey to prevent a military clash.
- Israel struck the Abu al-Duhur air base in Idlib countryside on August 18, targeting runways and military infrastructure.
- Turkey denied that Turkish military personnel were present at Abu al-Duhur at the time of the strike.
- Mossad chief Roman Gofman spoke by phone with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani before the strikes, according to Haaretz.
- US Special Representative for Syria and Ambassador to Ankara Tom Barrack criticized the strike, saying Washington was not notified in advance.
Secret Channels
A senior Israeli security official told KAN on August 23 that Israel is conducting secret talks with Turkey to prevent a military clash. The official said the closed communication channels are used to convey mutual messages, prevent miscalculations, and ensure that military activities in Syria do not turn into direct conflict. According to Al Arabiya, the official stated, "We are conducting secret talks with Turkey to prevent friction," and added, "We do not want to turn Turkey into an enemy."
Abu al-Duhur Strike
Israel targeted the Abu al-Duhur air base in Idlib countryside on August 18, hitting runways and military infrastructure. Israeli sources said the operation aimed to prevent Turkey from deploying military systems to the base. Tel Aviv views Ankara's potential permanent military presence in Syria, especially the deployment of air defense systems, as a security threat. Turkey denied that Turkish military personnel were present at Abu al-Duhur at the time of the strike, and the Damascus government also denied that Turkey was preparing to establish a permanent military base there.
US Reaction
US Special Representative for Syria and Ambassador to Ankara Tom Barrack criticized the Israeli strike on Abu al-Duhur, saying Washington was not notified in advance. Israeli media reported that Barrack expressed concern that the strike could provoke Turkey. Haaretz reported that Israel carried out the strike based on intelligence that Turkey planned to deploy troops in Syria, while a mechanism exists to prevent direct conflict between Ankara and Tel Aviv.
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Israel opens secret channels with Turkey to prevent Syria clash, official says
